Troubling update on Yankees' Domingo German revealed

There's more information about why New York Yankees starting pitcher Domingo German voluntarily entered inpatient treatment for alcohol abuse.

"On Tuesday evening of this week, German grew belligerent while in the clubhouse at Yankee Stadium, though there is no word of an altercation with a teammate or other individuals," MLB insider Andy Martino of SNY reported on Thursday afternoon. "Witnesses determined that German was under the influence of alcohol and did not appear in control of his emotions." 

Randy Miller of NJ Advance Media for NJ.com noted that players inside the Yankees clubhouse knew German "had an alcohol problem" and were aware of an incident "kept in-house" until Martino's update. Catcher Kyle Higashioka told Miller that German "definitely is a different person when he’s under the influence and it sucks." 

German missed the entire pandemic-shortened 2020 season serving a suspension following a domestic violence incident involving his partner that occurred in 2019 when he reportedly was intoxicated. Martino mentioned that German, who turns 31 years old on Friday, is currently not under investigation by MLB regarding any possible domestic incident. 

"A Latino reporter who knows German well told NJ Advance Media that the right-hander had stopped drinking for a while, but would have binges at times because 'he feels so much guilt about what happened' in 2019," Miller added.

German apologized for the 2019 incident ahead of the 2021 campaign but wasn't immediately welcomed back with open arms by all his teammates. More recently, he pitched a perfect game at the Oakland Athletics on June 28. 

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman confirmed Wednesday that German will not return to the club's active roster this season. Miller said it's "unclear" if the righty will ever again pitch for the Bronx Bombers or any other MLB club. 

German ended his season with a 5-7 record and a 4.56 ERA across 20 appearances (19 starts) and 108.2 innings of work.