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Minnesota Twins star third baseman Miguel Sano is being accused of assault by team photographer Betsy Bissen. She detailed her account of the 2015 incident, as well as a number of unpleasant encounters with the first base coach, on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/BitzyBetsy/status/946407707606740992
Here are the sections focusing just on the 6’4, 262-pound Sano’s actions:
He was lined up to do an autograph signing at the store I volunteered at. He made a comment while we got our picture together that he had seen me during the games. During the signing, he kept trying to flirt with me (I didn’t reciprocate). After the signing was over, he decided that he wanted to go to the Apple Store before he left the mall. As him, his agent, and the guy I worked for walked away, he grabbed my wrist and made me go with them. (I didn’t want to cause a scene, so I just went along). We spend around a half hour inside that store before it was time for him and his agent to leave. Their car was pulled around to a back hallway door. As we got outside, the athlete decided he needed to use the restroom. I asked my boss where it was and pointed to the door we just walked thru. Apparently I was too close, and the athlete took that as a signal that I wanted him to grab me and try to take me back thru that door.
I pulled back as he held onto my wrist. It hurt, how badly he was grasping at my wrist, but he wouldn’t let go. I wasn’t going to give up my fight though. He then leaned down and tried to kiss me, more than once. Every time he did, I said no and kept pulling back. I was in a squatted position with my wrist throbbing. I screamed, no one came to help me. He finally gave up after a solid 10 mins of fighting to pull me thru that door. I don’t even want to think of what he may have done, had he got me thru that door. No, he didn’t rape me, but he sure did assault me. When I said no, it should have been the end of it. He should have respected that and stopped. Instead, he hurt me and kept going.
Now, Sano’s name has recently popped up on the hot stove as a potential trade candidate, but Bissen says you shouldn’t connect the two as the Twins are unaware this occurred:
https://twitter.com/BitzyBetsy/status/946420338631491584
Sano slashed .264/.352/.507 with 28 home runs and 77RBI this past season. He was named to his first All-Star team after a strong first couple of months, but tailed off in the second half and recently had to undergo surgery on his left leg.
The Twins have released the following statement:
#MNTwins statement on Miguel Sano: pic.twitter.com/ybQfQ4mcpm
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) December 28, 2017
Update: Miguel Sano has come out and denied the allegations (via ESPN).
“I unequivocally deny the allegation made against me today — it never happened,” Sano said in the statement. “I have the utmost respect for women, especially those working in professional sports, and I deeply sympathize with anyone who has experienced sexual harassment. There is no place for it in our society.”
