Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker arrested on DUI charge in Florida
Toronto Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker was arrested on Thursday night after he was speeding under the influence in Penellas County, Fla, the club confirmed.
According to local police, the 52-year-old was going 82 mph (131.9 km/h) in a 45-mph zone.
The police on scene said that Walker failed his sobriety test and confessed to drinking four beers at a local bar and restaurant.
The Blue Jays and Walker are currently in Florida for Spring Training, and their southern home stadium in Dunedin, in Penellas County, is approximately a 10-minute drive from where Walker was caught allegedly speeding under the influence.
"I'm very apologetic to the Blue Jays organization, Blue Jays fans and my family," Walker said after Toronto's game against the New York Yankees on Friday. "I'm working with my attorney to get resolution to this right now. My apologies to my three daughters as well. Right now, we're working through that with my attorney for resolution and that is the only comment I'll have right now."
#BlueJays pitching coach Pete Walker addressed his arrest for driving under the influence:
“There was a traffic incident on Thursday night that I was involved in. I’m very apologetic to the Blue Jays organization, Blue Jays fans and my family.” (1/2)— Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) March 26, 2022
There has been no official word from the Blue Jays or MLB in terms of potential disciplinary actions on the matter, but Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said on Friday that Walker would remain with the team.
The club also released an official statement following Friday's game, which reads as follows:
The Toronto Blue Jays are aware of the recent police incident involving Pete Walker. Te club is currently gathering more information and out of respect for the legal process, there will be no further comment at this time.
There is somewhat of a precedent to this happening to major-league coaches.
Chicago White Sox manager and infamous baseball personality Tony La Russa was sentenced to one day of home detention, a mandatory 20 hours of community service, and fined nearly $1,400, for a drunken-driving charge in 2020. La Russa is a repeat offender in this case (he pleaded guilty to driving under the influence in 2007 as well), and the initial arrest happened before he was hired by the White Sox.
Walker’s situation could prove a little more complicated as a current employee in the middle of Spring Training.
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