Rays cut ties with team physician after video emerges alleging sexual misconduct
The Tampa Bay Rays have dismissed long-time team physician Michael Reilly after a video emerged accusing him of sexual misconduct.
The Rays issued a one-sentence statement announcing the they had “ended our contractual relationship” with the 67-year-old Reilly. To make things clear, the statement ended with, “he is no longer affiliated with the organization.”
Reilly’s dismissal comes after a YouTube video was released on Jan. 17 accusing him of sexual misconduct. The Rays took action when they were made aware of that video, Rays vie president John Higgins told the Tampa Bay Times.
“We have very recently become aware of a video accusing Dr. Reilly of sexually abusing a former employee of his medical practice,” said John Higgins, Rays vice president and general counsel. “We have ended our contractual relationship with him, and we have also alerted the St. Petersburg Police Department and Major League Baseball of this situation.”
The woman in the video alleges the misconduct began when she started working in Reilly’s practice eight to 10 years ago. She was 16 at the time. She said the misconduct started with unwelcome touching in an attempt to gain her trust. After leaving that job for a few months, she returned wondering whether she “was being dramatic.”
That’s when things got worse, according to her. Reilly would allegedly ask her to stay late with him at the office. When they were there, Reilly would continue to touch the woman. She says in the video, “without getting specific, it got worse.” Afterward, she said she would leave the office and cry in her car. She also says Reilly would invite her into his office during the day, close the door and try to kiss her.
Reilly had been the Rays’ team doctor since the franchise’s first season in 1998.
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Chris Cwik is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at christophercwik@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Chris_Cwik
