Angels pitching coach Mickey Callaway suspended amid allegations of lewd behavior

Less than one full day after a story from The Athletic’s Brittany Ghiroli and Katie Strang detailed disturbing allegations made against Los Angeles Angels pitching coach Mickey Callaway, the Angels announced that they suspended the 45-year-old pending the results of an inquiry. 

"Late yesterday we were made aware of the allegations reported in The Athletic. This morning we suspended Mickey Callaway, and will work closely with MLB to conduct a full investigation," Angels spokesperson Marie Garvey said in a prepared statement shared by Rhett Bollinger of the club's official website on Tuesday afternoon. 

At least five women who work in sports media have alleged Callaway of inappropriate behavior, such as sending unsolicited lewd messages and friending one of them on Facebook.

"It was the worst-kept secret in sports," one of the women said of Callaway's reputation for aggressive and indecent behavior. 

Callaway served as Cleveland Indians pitching coach from 2013 through 2017 and then as manager for the New York Mets the following two seasons. 

Callaway's alleged actions "spanned at least five years, multiple cities and three teams," per The Athletic. 

"Rather than rush to respond to these general allegations of which I have just been made aware, I look forward to an opportunity to provide more specific responses," Callaway responded to the story on Monday night. "I look forward to an opportunity to provide more specific responses. Any relationship in which I was engaged has been consensual, and my conduct was in no way intended to be disrespectful to any women involved. I am married and my wife has been made aware of these general allegations."

Callaway's suspension occurs two weeks after the Mets fired general manager Jared Porter for sending over 60 unwanted and unanswered texts, many of which were said to be of a sexual nature, to a female reporter in 2016 when he was working for the Chicago Cubs.