Hahn Addresses White Sox's Background Check Process Amid Clevinger Investigation

Rick Hahn met the media for the first time since the allegations were levied on his newest pitching acquisition, Mike Clevinger. The White Sox general manager looked tired and worn down. Clevinger is under investigation for violating the MLB's domestic violence policy after reports of physical, verbal, and emotional abuse surfaced. The allegations include choking Olivia Finestead, the mother of his infant child, rampant drug abuse, and throwing chewing tobacco on his child.

The White Sox denied knowing anything about the MLB's investigation, which has been ongoing since last summer. Hahn doubled down on the White Sox claims.

"There was no way for us to be aware of the incident without someone being in violation," Hahn said. He later added, "there was no indication of anything close to what is being alleged in this guy's background."

Hahn did admit that they uncovered some maturity issues in Clevinger's background, mainly his breach of the COVID protocol while he was playing with Cleveland. Chelsea James of the Washington Post added that a police report was filed against Clevinger about the abuse allegations.

There has also been multiple Instagram post from scorned ex-girlfriends. One such post from 2019 accuses Clevinger of cheating on his girlfriend four weeks after she birthed his daughter and kicking her out of the home they had just bought together.

Cheating does not make Clevinger guilty of these accusations. Plenty of MLB players cheat on their spouses. However, it does show a pattern of immaturity and lack of respect for women. All this comes after they hired a manager with multiple DUIs before the 2021 season.
Hahn did tell reporters that he understands why Clevinger didn't disclose any information about the investigation and that the organization will have to review how they can improve their background check process.

Oliva Finestead shed some light on why the investigation was taking so long in an Instagram post, saying that she didn't report him to the MLB.

Finestead writes:

"If you haven't yet watch the tail end of the video last night on how mike got reported to the mlb because it wasn't by me. His excessive drug use (shrooms acid who cares about his daily weed use still not good but a whole different comparison) and him choking me got reported by other people. I wasn't saying ANYTHING at all (even with mike breaking mlb investigation policy and threatening my mom & I) I didn't want to say anything for the sake of moving on. Took me about 4 months and several custody threats later before I started turning in evidence/ speaking to mlb investigators"

Aside from the maturity issues, Clevinger was already a calculated risk. The 32-year-old righty is only two years removed from Tommy John surgery. In his first season back, he posted a 4.33 ERA, 18.8 K%, 7.2 BB%, and 35.2% groundball rate in 114 1/3 innings. He also started a pair of playoff games, allowing seven earned runs in 2 2/3 innings. He ranked in the bottom half of the league in hard hit percentage, expected batting average, expected slugging percentage, barrel percentage, strikeout percentage, whiff rate, fastball velocity, and curveball spin.

Pitchers and catchers reported to Spring Training on Wednesday, and Clevinger was among the many players that arrived at Camelback Ranch. Chuck Garfein reported that Clevinger addressed the team and apologized for being a distraction in the clubhouse. He later addressed the media and vehemently denied the accusations.

"I'm just asking everyone to wait before they rush to judgment, Clevinger told reporters. " Wait until the actual facts are out there. Wait until there's actual evidence and then make a decision on me."

Many fans have called for the White Sox to punish Clevinger, but
the MLB Commissioner is the only one with the discretion to punish players under the joint domestic abuse policy. The White Sox's only options are to wait until the investigation plays out or release him and eat the $12 million he is owed. They have chosen to wait until the MLB's investigation has reached its conclusion.

Because the MLB has not placed him on administrative leave is still eligible to pitch in the regular season until further notice. Manager Pedro Grifol does not feel like Clevinger will be a distraction.

"He spoke to the club, and we'll leave that in the clubhouse. We have some veteran players here, and I think we'll do a good job handling any distraction that could come our way."