Aroldis Chapman apologies for role in domestic violence incident

The New York Yankees closer is saying sorry for some of the incident that led to his 30 game suspension to open the 2016 season.

When the 2016 regular season begins for the New York Yankees, they will be without their planned closer that was going to get things started on the right foot for the men in The Bronx. Now, Aroldis Chapman will be watching the first month of the season from home.

Chapman, who accepted the league’s 30 game ban for his role in a domestic violence case in Florida last October, is apologizing for part of his role in the incident that is keeping him off the field, insisting that he did not physically harm his girlfriend:

"“I want to take this opportunity — I want this to be clear — I’m apologizing because the use of the gun. It was bad judgment on my part. But I also want to say that I never hurt my girlfriend. I want this to be very clear. I’m taking this punishment because of my bad judgment. [It’s] something that I definitely want to put behind me and move on.”"

Chapman was alleged to have beaten his girlfriend and fired off eight shots from a gun outside their home near Fort Lauderdale. He was not criminally charged in the case. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred met with Chapman and his lawyers and handed down the punishment, which the Yankees pitcher vowed he would not appeal.

The hard throwing left hander was acquired by the Yankees in a trade with the Cincinnati Reds this past offseason. Chapman was originally scheduled to be traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers, but that trade was voided when the allegations were initially made public.