BREAKING NEWS: DIAMONDBACKS SUPERSTAR CORBIN BURNES CRITICIZES HIS MANAGER FOR BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEATH OF TEAMMATE
IN A SHOCKING TURN OF EVENTS, ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS ACE CORBIN BURNES HAS PUBLICLY ACCUSED HIS MANAGER OF BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TRAGIC DEATH OF A TEAMMATE, SENDING SHOCKWAVES THROUGH THE BASEBALL WORLD.
DURING A POST-GAME INTERVIEW ON SUNDAY NIGHT, FOLLOWING THE DIAMONDBACKS’ LOSS TO THE SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS, BURNES MADE THE STUNNING CLAIM THAT MANAGER TORREY LOVEULLO’S DECISION-MAKING AND “NEGLIGENCE” LED TO THE UNTIMELY DEATH OF RELIEVER JASON HERNANDEZ, WHO PASSED AWAY LAST WEEK IN A TRAINING INCIDENT THAT HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY RULED AN ACCIDENT.
“THIS WASN’T JUST A TRAGIC ACCIDENT,” BURNES SAID, FIGHTING BACK EMOTION. “WE TRIED TO RAISE CONCERNS ABOUT THE INTENSITY OF OUR WORKOUTS AND THE LACK OF PROPER MEDICAL SUPPORT. IT FELL ON DEAF EARS. WE LOST JASON BECAUSE SOMEONE DIDN’T LISTEN.”
THE INCIDENT IN QUESTION OCCURRED ON APRIL 2, WHEN HERNANDEZ COLLAPSED DURING AN INTENSIVE CONDITIONING DRILL AT THE DIAMONDBACKS’ SPRING FACILITY IN SCOTTSDALE. INITIAL REPORTS INDICATED HE SUFFERED A CARDIAC EVENT, BUT AN ONGOING INTERNAL REVIEW HAS UNCOVERED POTENTIAL LAPSES IN EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND A FAILURE TO ADHERE TO SAFETY PROTOCOLS.
WHILE THE ORGANIZATION HAS REMAINED LARGELY SILENT ON THE DETAILS, BURNES’ ACCUSATION MARKS THE FIRST TIME A PLAYER HAS SPOKEN PUBLICLY ABOUT MISCONDUCT OR MISMANAGEMENT RELATED TO HERNANDEZ’S DEATH.
“WE’RE SUPPOSED TO BE A FAMILY,” BURNES CONTINUED. “BUT WHEN LEADERSHIP IGNORES PLAYER WELL-BEING TO PUSH PERFORMANCE METRICS, TRAGEDY HAPPENS. SOMEONE HAS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.”
THE DIAMONDBACKS HAVE YET TO RELEASE AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT FOLLOWING BURNES’ COMMENTS, BUT SOURCES INSIDE THE ORGANIZATION HAVE CONFIRMED THAT THE FRONT OFFICE IS MEETING WITH LEGAL AND MEDICAL ADVISORS TO DISCUSS NEXT STEPS. TEAM OWNER KEN KENDRICK IS ALSO REPORTEDLY INVOLVED IN EMERGENCY MEETINGS TO ADDRESS THE FALLOUT.
THE MLB PLAYERS ASSOCIATION HAS EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR BURNES’ RIGHT TO SPEAK OUT AND HAS CALLED FOR AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION INTO HERNANDEZ’S DEATH AND THE CONDITIONS AT THE DIAMONDBACKS’ TRAINING FACILITY.
CORBIN BURNES, A CY YOUNG AWARD WINNER AND ONE OF THE MOST RESPECTED VOICES IN THE CLUBHOUSE, HAS NEVER BEEN KNOWN TO SPEAK OUT CONTROVERSIALLY, MAKING HIS ACCUSATION EVEN MORE EXPLOSIVE.
THE STORY IS STILL DEVELOPING AS MORE DETAILS ARE EXPECTED TO EMERGE IN THE COMING DAYS. AUTHORITIES HAVE NOT RULED OUT A REOPENING OF THE INVESTIGATION INTO HERNANDEZ’S DEATH. IF NEGLIGENCE IS PROVEN, IT COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES FOR THE DIAMONDBACKS’ LEADERSHIP AND TRAINING STAFF.
STAY TUNED FOR UPDATES AS THIS STORY CONTINUES TO UNFOLD.
