Tigers pitcher Evan Reed is charged with sexual assault; faces 15 years in prison - MLB

Back in April we learned that Detroit police were investigating allegations that Tigers reliever Evan Reed — now with the Toledo Mud Hens — was involved in a sexual assault. Today the charges have been filed:

A Detroit Tigers pitcher now with the Toledo Mud Hens is charged with two counts of criminal sexual conduct involving a 45-year-old woman in March at a Motor City Casino Hotel room . . . The charges against Reed carry a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. He’s charged under the theory that he committed sexual penetration through force or coercion, knowing that the woman was unable to consent, according to the news release.

The allegations as stated in the article imply that the woman is claiming that she was drugged or, at the very least, was intoxicated. As of now, arrangements are being made for Reed to turn himself in.

The Tigers have released a statement:

“As an organization, we take matters like this very seriously and we are closely monitoring the situation. Evan Reed’s representatives are handling his legal proceeding that must run its course before there is any further comment from the ballclub.”

PITTSBURGH — The New York Mets will have to dig out of an early-season hole without star first baseman Pete Alonso.

The leading home run hitter in the majors will miss three-to-four weeks with a bone bruise and a sprain in his left wrist.

The Mets placed Alonso on the 10-day injured list Friday, retroactive to June 8. Alonso was hit in the wrist by a 96 mph fastball from Charlie Morton in the first inning of a 7-5 loss to Atlanta on Wednesday.

Alonso traveled to New York for testing on Thursday. X-rays revealed no broken bones, but the Mets will be missing one of the premier power hitters in the game as they try to work their way back into contention in the NL East.

“We got better news than it could have been,” New York manager Buck Showalter said. “So we take that as a positive. It could have been worse.”

New York had lost six straight heading into a three-game series at Pittsburgh that began Friday. Mark Canha started at first for the Mets in the opener. Mark Vientos could also be an option, though Showalter said the coaching staff may have to use its “imagination” in thinking of ways to get by without Alonso.

“I’m not going to say someone has to step up and all that stuff,” Showalter said. “You’ve just got to be who you are.”

Even with Alonso in the lineup, the Mets have struggled to score consistently. New York is 16th in the majors in runs scored.

The team also said Friday that reliever Edwin Uceta had surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. Uceta initially went on the IL in April with what the team called a sprained left ankle. He is expected to be out for at least an additional eight weeks.

New York recalled infielder Luis Guillorme and left-handed reliever Zach Muckenhirn from Triple-A Syracuse. The Mets sent catcher Tomás Nido to Triple-A and designated reliever Stephen Nogosek for assignment.

Nogosek is 0-1 with a 5.63 ERA in 13 games this season.