Eric Hosmer defends Danny Valencia after reported incident with Billy Butler
According to Susan Slusser, former Royal/current Oakland A’s player Billy Butler was injured by former Royal/current Oakland A’s player Danny Valencia after the two scuffled ... because of shoes.
Slusser, who broke the story, reported that “Butler informed an equipment representative that Valencia had not, in fact, been wearing the spikes that Valencia had told the representative that he was using.”
Although Valencia wasn’t hurt, he took a beating on social media. For example:
Do remember Danny Valencia was hitting .291/.336/.506 last year when the Blue Jays DFA'd him. Doesn't happen to guys slugging .500 often.
— JJ Cooper (@jjcoop36) August 22, 2016
But Eric Hosmer, one of Valencia’s former teammates with the Royals, stepped up and defended Valencia:
Don't understand all the negativity towards Danny Valencia. One of the better teammates/friends I've had in this game.
— Eric Hosmer (@TheRealHos35) August 22, 2016
Coco Crisp, a former Royal who is now with the Oakland A’s, also had good things to say about Valencia:
I feel the same, Danny has been one of my favorite teammates as well. Solid guy and a hard worker. https://t.co/Bt7f3GAlCY
— Covelli Crisp (@Coco_Crisp) August 22, 2016
It will be interesting to see what other details emerge from the scuffle between the A’s players.
Pete Grathoff: 816-234-4330, @pgrathoff
This story was originally published August 22, 2016 at 8:23 AM.