Blue Jays: Former pitcher robbed at gunpoint in the Dominican Republic

Former Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Miguel Castro was reportedly robbed at gunpoint while training at a ballpark in La Romana, Dominican Republic.

Miguel Castro who spent part of the 2015 season north of the border with the Blue Jays took to Instagram acknowledging that he was robbed of his jewelry and the assailants attempted to shoot him but the gun got jammed.

“They took my chains when I got there and they almost shot me,” he wrote in Spanish. “Thank God that their gun got jammed.”

Castro who is represented by the Ballengee Group also made a statement on their client’s behalf confirming that Castro is shaken but safe and he feels extremely blessed and fortunate to still be alive and thanks to everyone for their support. The hurler was not deterred by the scary incident quipping he would still continue to support his country and use his platform to be a role model.

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Castro made the Blue Jays squad out of spring training as a 20-year old and even managed to earn four saves pitching in relief. The fireballer would make 13 appearances for the Jays before eventually being traded to Colorado at the trade deadline as part of the package for Troy Tulowitzki and LaTroy Hawkins.

The 25-year old made 65 relief appearances last season, saving two games while compiling a 4.66 earned run average for the Baltimore Orioles. Castro sports a career 4.32 earned run average in 204 games between the Jays, Rockies, and Orioles.

This is not the first report of athletes having issues when they return to their native countries. Recently Red Sox legend David Ortiz narrowly missed being murdered when he was shot while at the Dial Bar and Lounge in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Thankfully, the gun malfunctioned and Castro was not injured in this latest unfortunate incident involving a professional athlete in the D.R.