Osuna working way back to Blue Jays with Gulf Coast club
Toronto closer tosses scoreless inning in 1st appearance since assault charge in May
Toronto Blue Jays reliever Roberto Osuna pitched in a professional game Saturday for the first time since he was charged with assault two months ago.
Osuna, who's currently serving a 75-game unpaid suspension handed down by Major League Baseball, pitched one inning for Toronto's Gulf Coast League team in Dunedin, Fla., on Saturday afternoon, striking out a batter and allowing one hit.
The 23-year-old closer was initially placed on a paid administrative leave that was renewed on a week-to-week basis following his May 8 arrest.
The league imposed the 75-game suspension in late June, retroactive to the date of Osuna's arrest, saying in a press release he had violated MLB's policy on domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse.
Osuna was eligible to begin playing in the Jays' minor-league system starting Saturday. He can join the major league team on Aug. 5.
Osuna had his criminal case put over for three weeks at a brief court hearing in Toronto earlier this week.
Basile has said Osuna intends to plead not guilty to the charges, which he says stem from an alleged domestic incident.