New York Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia is checking himself into an alcohol rehabilitation facility.
“Today I am checking myself into an alcohol rehabilitation center to receive the professional care and assistance needed to treat my disease,” Sabathia said Monday in a statement. “I love baseball and I love my teammates like brothers, and I am also fully aware that I am leaving at a time when we should all be coming together for one last push toward the World Series. It hurts me deeply to do this now, but I owe it to myself and to my family to get myself right.”
The decision means the manager Joe Girardi will have to rethink his rotation should the Yankees advance to play the Kansas City Royals.
Girardi had considered using Sabathia out of the bullpen against the Astros if needed. The veteran left-hander would have been in the starting rotation in the American League Division Series against the Royals if the Yankees beat the Astros.
But Sabathia said his health has to come first.
“I want to take control of my disease, and I want to be a better man, father and player.”
The postseason gets underway Tuesday when the Yankees play host to the Houston Astros in the AL wild-card game.
“As difficult as this decision is to share publicly, I don’t want to run and hide,” Sabathia said. “But for now please respect my family’s need for privacy as we work through this challenge together.”
