Puig decision expected soon

Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred says a decision will be forthcoming quickly about a ban against Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig but Colorado shortstop Jose Reyes will not face more discipline until his legal matters are settled. Monfred updated the most incomplete possible bans faced by the sport with the regular season less than a month ago. Puig, a 25-year-old Cuban outfielder, has been investigated for his role in an alleged domestic assault while Reyes faces an April trial on charges of domestic assault against his wife in Hawaii. “I think the single biggest mistake you can make here is to make a decision quickly and then have additional facts come out afterward and undermine the quality of that decision,” Manfred said regarding Reyes. Puig allegedly was involved in an incident with a bouncer at a Miami bar in November that reportedly included an altercation between Puig and his sister. “The investigation is essentially complete,” Manfred said. “We’ll have something on Puig shortly.” New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman was the first player suspended under Major League Baseball’s new domestic violence policy.  Chapman’s alleged domestic violence incident in Florida led to no formal charges, but Manfred found grounds for a 30-game suspension for the 28-year-old Cuban-born left-handed pitcher after a league probe. Reyes was placed on paid leave before the start of spring training as part of the domestic violence policy. He faces a criminal case starting April 4 and Manfred will decide about any action against him once a final ruling is handed down.  Dominican Reyes, 32, batted .274 with seven home runs and 53 runs batted in last season for the Toronto Blue Jays and Colorado. He is a career .290 hitter with 118 homers and 621 runs batted in. Braves, Marlins to play July 3 at Fort Bragg The Atlanta Braves and Miami Marlins will move their July 3 game in Atlanta to Fort Bragg at a ballpark to be built on the North Carolina military base, Major League Baseball announced Tuesday. Major League Baseball and its players union will combine to pay for the 12,500-seat stadium, which after the game will be converted to a softball facility for families on the US Army base, one of the world’s largest US Army installations. The Braves will remain the home team for the unique game, which will be played at night and telecast. Tickets will be available to Department of Defense personnel only for the US Independence Day weekend event staged to honour the military. The National League East division rivals will take part in the first professional game played at an active military installation, although college basketball games between US schools have been played on military ships.