SF Giants pitcher Sean Hjelle accused of abuse by estranged wife in social-media post
SAN FRANCISCO — Caroline Hjelle has accused her soon-to-be ex-husband, Giants pitcher Sean Hjelle, of abuse and abandonment in a social-media post.
“We are aware of these serious allegations,” the Giants said in a statement Saturday morning. “We have been in contact with MLB. These type of allegations fall under their jurisdiction and we won’t be commenting further.”
On Friday, Caroline Hjelle posted a video on TikTok that read, “When my MLB husband abandons us on Mothers Day a week after this (video was taken) once I finally found about his affairs and stopped putting up with his abuse so I’ve been raising two boys alone”.
The caption of the video read, “Yeah I’ve had to be silent for too long about this”.
A Giants spokesperson said the couple is divorced. Hjelle clarified after Saturday’s game that their divorce is just “a signature away.”
“I don’t have an official comment right now,” Sean Hjelle said of her accusations. “I like to actually talk with my agent, my lawyer. This has been something that’s been going on for over a year now in terms of our relationship and our divorce and our separation and everything.
“We reached an agreement in mediation this offseason. In the state of Virginia, we had to wait a full year of separation, which was filed last May. So, the official divorce decree has been delayed because of me starting in Sacramento, and per the terms of agreement, there are some nuances and whatnot. That part has actually been delayed. But for all intents and purposes, the divorce is a signature away from being official and finalized.”
Sean Hjelle pitched in relief on Friday night in the Giants’ 7-5 loss to the Red Sox. He also was an emergency starter on Sunday at Dodger Stadium when scheduled starter Kyle Harrison was included in the trade with Boston for Rafael Devers.
Before Saturday’s game against the Red Sox, Giants manager Bob Melvin said, “Obviously, we’re aware of it. He told me about it last night. We’ve talked with MLB, and at this point, it’s in their jurisdiction. We really can’t comment on it any further.”
Although Melvin said Hjelle was available to pitch Saturday, he wasn’t called upon during San Francisco’s 3-2 win over Boston.