Jose Offerman Ordered to Pay Nearly $1 Million for Bat Attack

Bridgeport Bluefish catcher John Nathans, (right) tries to prevent Long Island Duck's Jose Offerman (18) from hitting Bluefish pitcher Matt Beech with a bat. AP Photo/Connecticut Post, Christian Abraham

By Gary Dzen

July 30, 2014

1 minute to read

Former major leaguer Jose Offerman was ordered by a jury Tuesday to pay out nearly $1 million to a minor league player he assaulted with a baseball bat in 2007.

Former Bridgeport Bluefish catcher Johnathan Nathans was awarded $940,000. He had sought $4.8 million in the lawsuit. Nathans suffered a head injury in the attack, which ended his career, and still has lingering symptoms.

Offerman, who had a 15-year MLB career, was attempting to get back to the majors with the Long Island Ducks when the attack occurred. Offerman was hit by a pitch from Bluefish pitcher Matt Beech and charged the mound with his bat. Beech suffered a broken finger.

No video exists of the incident, but there is video of a 2010 incident in which Offerman punched an umpire in the Dominican winter baseball league, from which Offerman was then banned.

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Offerman played for the Red Sox from 1999 to 2002. He was named an All-Star in his first season.

h/t ESPN