Woman Says Pirates Player Sexually Assaulted Her After Cubs Game

By Stephen Gossett in News on Jul 6, 2016 4:05PM

Jung Ho Kang / Photo: Stephen Brashear / Getty Images

Chicago police are investigating Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Jung Ho Kang for criminal sexual assault over an incident that occurred when the team was in the city last month. No charges have been filed yet.

A 23-year-old woman reported on June 17 that she had been sexually assaulted at approximately 10 p.m. in a hotel room in the 900 block of N Michigan Ave., police told Chicagoist.

The Pirates said in a statement that they are cooperating with authorities.

Pirates president Frank Coonelly:

"=We have been made aware of the allegation that has been made against Jung Ho Kang. We take allegations of this type extremely seriously. Pursuant to the Joint MLB/MLBPA Policy on such matters, this matter is exclusively before the Commissioner’s Office at this time. We have and will continue to cooperate fully with the Commissioner’s Office. As a result of the ongoing police investigation, we cannot comment further at this time. We have also advised our staff and our players that they should not comment on the matter either. We all need to be respectful to the police investigation of a very serious allegation.

The investigation is ongoing, police said.

Kang and the 23-year-old woman met through the dating app Bumble, according to media reports. Kang invited the woman to his room at the Westin Hotel after the Pirates had lost a day game to the Chicago Cubs.

The woman said she blacked out 15 to 20 minutes after Kang gave her a drink; she said she then drifted in and out of consciousness as Kang assaulted her, according to reports. She told police she did not regain full consciousness until she was on her way home in a taxi. The woman went on June 19 to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where a rape kit examination was conducted.

Kang signed a four-year contract with the Pirates in 2015. The Cubs visit Pittsburgh on Friday to begin a weekend series.