Domestic violence accusations have struck another MLB player as Kristen Eck, the ex-fiance of Rays catcher Derek Norris, alleged that she was abused by Norris in an Instagram post yesterday. The post didnt provide any details, but a league spokesperson said MLB has opened an investigation. Today, Eck provided more details of the alleged abuse in a blog post.
In her post, Eck describes a dark night in 2015 when Norris went bonkers.
ON OCTOBER 20TH, 2015 DEREK AND I WERE AT OUR HOME IN WICHITA, KS. WE HAD BEEN SITTING OUT ON OUR PATIO AND DEREK HAD BEEN DRINKING. AS IT GOT LATE I WENT TO GO TO BED AND DEREK WENT DOWNSTAIRS, AS HE WAS STILL DRINKING. I REMEMBER WAKING UP TO HIM KNEELING AT THE BED TELLING ME HOW PRETTY I WAS AND SINGING SLOW JAMS TO ME, BUT I COULDNT KEEP MY EYES OPEN. I WOKE UP A LITTLE WHILE LATER. IM NOT SURE HOW LONG IT HAD BEEN. I FELT THAT SOMETHING WAS NOT RIGHT AND I WENT DOWNSTAIRS TO FIND DEREK ON THE PHONE. HE SEEMED STARTLED AND STARTED TALKING SPORTS TO THIS PERSON ON THE PHONE. I TOOK THE PHONE AND HEARD A FEMALES VOICE STATING, ARE YOU GOING TO TALK TO ME. I KNEW WHO IT WAS BECAUSE I HAD SEEN TEXTS AND CAUGHT HER CALLING DEREK BEFORE. I TOOK HIS PHONE AND WALKED UP OUR STAIRS TO TRY AND GET THIS GIRL TO SPEAK TO ME. I APPROACHED OUR KITCHEN ISLAND WITH THE PHONE IN MY HAND AND DEREK APPROACHED ME FROM BEHIND AND PUT ME IN A CHOKE HOLD. AT THIS TIME, I THOUGHT HE WANTED THE PHONE. I THREW THE PHONE ONTO THE KITCHEN ISLAND AND TRIED TO GET AWAY. DEREK THEN GRABBED ME BY THE BACK OF MY HAIR TO PULL ME BACK TO HIM. HE EVENTUALLY LET GO AND AS I TURNED AROUND HE GRABBED ME BY MY UPPER ARMS SO I COULDNT LEAVE AS HE TRIED TO DRUNKENLY EXPLAIN THAT HE WASNT TALKING TO ANOTHER FEMALE.
AFTER THIS I TRIED TO GO TO OUR BEDROOM TO GET MY PHONE TO CALL MY MOM SO SHE COULD COME HELP ME. HE STOOD IN FRONT OF ME CORNERING ME SO I COULD NOT GET TO MY PHONE. HE KEPT TRYING TO TALK TO ME AND DENY WHAT HE WAS DOING. I EVENTUALLY COULD GRAB MY PHONE AND GET INTO OUR GUEST ROOM AND LOCK THE DOOR. I GRABBED MY SUITCASE AND CALLED MY MOM SO SHE COULD COME GET ME.
MY MOM AND HER HUSBAND SHOWED UP AND TOOK ME BACK TO THEIR HOME. DEREK CALLED MY MOM AND WAS TALKING TO HER ON THE PHONE. HE CALLED HER AGAIN ONCE WE REACHED MY MOMS HOUSE. I DONT KNOW DETAILS OF WHAT THEY TALKED ABOUT. I DO KNOW THAT HE WAS SO UPSET BY THE SITUATION THAT HIS PARENTS CAME OVER TO THE HOUSE TO BE WITH HIM AND TALK TO HIM.
She’s still speaking out about the abuse in recent posts and seems primed to go on a full-fledged campaign detailing her year of terror with Norris. They obviously had a really bad night. The situation has had long-lasting mental effects as Eck goes on to write that she suffered from anxiety, depression, and an eating disorder after the alleged assault.
Four years ago I went back to school to get my degree, shortly after, I moved across the country for love. Three years ago I was engaged. Two years ago I was planning a wedding. And one year ago I left the person I thought I was going to marry. I had beautiful moments with a man and I fell in love with a sense of humor and authentic soul that I wanted to spend my life with. I also was physically and emotionally abused by this beautiful man. He gave me a lifestyle most people only dreamed of, but it came at a price. I am forever thankful for the joy, love and laughter he shared with me. I am also forever grateful for the darkness I experienced. Because of that, today is more full of light than I would have ever expected. When I left I had $300 to my name, I had no access to money, I had no access to cars and was only given the courtesy to remove my items from our home. When I left, he and his family made sure I had nothing. But, that is far from true. I had my life, I had my family, I had my friends and I had the fight and heart that has been in me since I was a little girl. With the help of a stranger I met in an airport I was given the strength to get on my feet and fight to rebuild my life. I sold what “materialistic” items I was able to take with me in order to fly to San Diego and live until I could find a job. I found a job, I found a place to live and I found myself. As I sit here, shaking, scared to share a small glimpse of the last year of my life I can’t help but let tears fall down my cheeks. I just finished my last day of my school. I am officially a college graduate, living in my dream city, working for a great company, teaching yoga and more importantly I am free of anxiety and surrounded by the love, support, grace and kindness of my friends and family and strangers and the world. Thank you to everybody who listened to me vent. Thank you to those who held me as I cried for hours. Thank you for those that didn’t judge my nightmares. Thank you to those who supported my dreams. Thank you to those who encouraged me when I could finally laugh again. Thank you to those who gave advice. Thank you to those who didn’t speak and were just there.
313 Likes, 59 Comments – Kristen Eck (@kristenmeck) on Instagram: “Four years ago I went back to school to get my degree, shortly after, I moved across the country…”
Norris denied the abuse in a statement to the Tampa Bay Times:
“First, I want to be absolutely clear that abuse of any form, is completely unacceptable. Allegations regarding this issue are a very serious matter and should not be taken lightly under any circumstances. That being said, in this circumstance, the comments made by my ex-fiancee could not be further from the truth. I have NEVER been physically or emotionally abusive towards her, or anyone else in my life.”
Both Norris and the Rays said in statements that they will cooperate with MLBs investigation.
It’s odd that Eck would wait two years to report this abuse and you have to question her motives. Nonetheless, MLB has proven that is does not condone any form of physical violence as evidenced by the suspensions to superstars like Aroldis Chapman and Jose Reyes. Its new and harsher policy on domestic violence, stemming from the visibility and trickle down effect of the Ray Rice elevator incident, is stiff and proactive.
Regardless of what happens with the case legally , MLB has shown that it will do its own investigation and dispense the appropriate punishment if any misconduct is found to be legit.
