Yankees’ Cervelli denies using PEDs from Biogenesis
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Francisco Cervelli promised last week he would speak to the media about appearing on the Biogenesis client list. He made good on that promise Wednesday morning.
Cervelli, who is competing with Chris Stewart for the Yankees’ starting catcher position, appeared on a list of baseball players from Anthony Bosch’s Biogenesis clinic. Bosch is currently being investigated by MLB for distributing performance-enhancing drugs from the clinic.
Cervelli admitted to meeting with Bosch, but said it was only to consult about a foot injury he suffered in 2011.
“I walked away with nothing in my hands,” Cervelli told reporters in Yankees camp in Tampa, Fla. Wednesday morning. “I take my responsibility. Nobody put a gun to my head to go there. And that’s it.”
Fellow Yankee Alex Rodriguez also appeared in Bosch’s documentation, though unlike Cervelli, Rodriguez’s name appeared next to specific performance-enhancing drugs, including human growth hormone and testosterone. The records show Rodriguez purchased HGH as recently as last spring.
Rodriguez is rehabbing from offseason hip surgery and will not come to spring training.
Cervelli struggled last season after playing as a quality backup from 2009-11. He played in just three games with the Yankees in 2012, and batted .246 with two home runs in 99 games for Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes-Barre.
“Check the numbers. I don’t use that stuff,” Cervelli joked about PED use.
He might play an even important role in 2013, as the Yankees let last season’s starter Russell Martin walk in the offseason and did not replace him with a free agent. Instead, the team decided to go with Cervelli or Stewart.
“I will be here just doing what I know, having fun,” Cervelli told reporters Wednesday. “I know my situation right now, no distraction. I just came here to play baseball.”
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