An Atlanta Braves minor league infielder is restricted from playing after his arrest for allegedly kidnapping and raping a woman, the team said Wednesday. But the attorney for the shortstop denies the allegations.
Elmer Salvador Reyes, a Nicaragua native, is a shortstop for the Gwinnett Braves and was in Ohio for a weekend series vs. the Columbus Clippers. After Friday night’s game, Reyes, 24, met two women at bar, where the three had drinks, according to police.
After drinks, Reyes paid for a room for the women at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in downtown Columbus, the Columbus Dispatch reported. Because they had been drinking, Reyes allegedly told the women he did not want them to drive home.
Reyes followed the women to the hotel room, where one woman fell asleep. That is when Reyes allegedly made sexual advances toward the woman, pinned her down on the bed and raped her, according to police.
Early Saturday, Reyes was arrested and charged with rape and kidnapping. During his arraignment Tuesday, bond was set at $50,000 for Reyes, the county prosecutor in Franklin County, Ohio, said Wednesday. Reyes was released from jail after posting bond and ordered not to have contact with the alleged victim, court documents showed.
The attorney for Reyes, Kort Gatterdam, declined to comment on specifics pending the ongoing investigation when reached by phone Wednesday afternoon.
“We adamantly deny the charges against Mr. Reyes,” Gatterdam told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “We look forward to the opportunity to present his side of the story in court.”
Reyes, who last played Friday night, has been restricted from playing during the investigation, the Braves organization said.
“We were very concerned to learn of the arrest of Elmer Reyes in Franklin County on Saturday morning,” the team said in an email to The AJC. “We will withhold further comment until we learn additional details and have all of the facts.”
Reyes signed with the Braves in 2009 as an undrafted free agent and is in his second season on the Gwinnett roster. Through 30 games, he was batting .216 this season.
Reyes’ next court appearance is scheduled for June 2.
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