Ex-All-Star Mark Grudzielanek under investigation

By Danny Gallagher

Canadian Baseball Network

Former Expos Gold Glove infielder Mark Grudzielanek and a Blue Jays seasonal employee are being investigated in separate incidents involving children, according to reports.

TMZ reported April 3 that Grudzielanek is being investigated by police in Scottsdale, Ariz. in response to an allegation of child abuse.

In Hamilton, Ontario, John Hashimoto, a former lead instructor with the Toronto Blue Jays Baseball Academy is facing child-luring charges.

Police in Halton Region say Hashimoto was also involved with Baseball Canada and with youth ball in Hamilton. Hashimoto, according to the Hamilton Spectator, faces counts of luring a child under 16 years old and invitation to sexual touching.

“We were deeply disturbed to learn of the charges against a former seasonal employee,” the Blue Jays said in a statement to the Spectator. “As this is an ongoing legal matter, we cannot comment further at this time.”

Hashimoto, a retired teacher, was a seasonal employee with the Blue Jays from 2006 until early 2020, when his contract ended because of the pandemic.

In documents obtained by TMZ, Grudzielanek, 50, is listed as an “offender” and the alleged victim is described as a 12-year-old. A source told TMZ that the allegations stem from a physical altercation on March 26.

Grudzielanek made his major-league debut with the Expos on April 28, 1995 and went on to play parts of four seasons with Montreal making the all-star game in 1996 at Philadelphia’s Veteran’s Stadium. He later played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals, Kansas City Royals and Cleveland Indians.