CC Sabathia will not be joining the New York Yankees as they begin their chase for a World Series championship Tuesday night, as the 35-year-old lefthander has announced he will be checking himself into an alcohol rehabilitation center.
“Today I am checking myself into an alcohol rehabilitation center to receive the professional care and assistance needed to treat my disease,” Sabathia said in a statement Monday, per Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
“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. I want to take control of my disease, and I want to be a better man, father and player.”
The Yankees are set to take on the Houston Astros in a Wild Card playoff game on Tuesday. Sabathia took part in the team’s champagne celebration after New York clinched a postseason berth last week. However, he clearly has more important things to focus on at the moment beyond baseball.
“Being an adult means being accountable. Being a baseball player means that others look up to you. I want my kids — and others who may have become fans of mine over the years — to know that I am not too big of a man to ask for help,” Sabathia wrote. “I want to hold my head up high, have a full heart and be the type of person again that I can be proud of. And that’s exactly what I am going to do.”
Sabathia had a very rough season, finishing with a 6-10 record and 4.73 ERA in 29 starts. He had pitched well recently with a 2.22 ERA over his last four starts and likely would have started a game in the ALDS, should the Yankees beat the Astros.
Here’s hoping CC gets the help he’s seeking.
