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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Major Leaguers Rally In Support Of Accused Former Giants Scout

Associated Press

A day after the San Francisco Giants announced they were cutting all ties with former scout Luis Rosa, a group of major leaguers vowed Friday to help Rosa fight sex abuse charges.

Texas Rangers outfielder Juan Gonzalez traveled to San Pedro de Macoris to visit Rosa in jail. The former scout faces charges that he coerced more than a dozen young Dominican players to have sex with him. The players also accused him of robbing them of pay and kicking them off the Giants’ farm team if they protested.

Rosa has denied the charges and came from his home in Puerto Rico to turn himself in and face the charges.

Gonzalez, the American League MVP in 1996, said he and several other Puerto Rican players had formed a committee to help Rosa, who faces penalties of up to 10 years in prison.

“It’s not true that we are going to leave him there alone,” Gonzalez said of many of the players who credit their careers to Rosa’s scouting.

Gonzalez, who was signed by Rosa in May 1986, for the Rangers, said the other players on the committee were Sandy and Roberto Alomar, Benito Santiago, Rey Sanchez and Ivan Rodriguez.

The following fields overflowed: DATELINE = SAN PEDRO DE MACORIS, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC