Twins slugger Miguel Sano says he did not kidnap, assault man who he claims raped his 8-year-old brother

At least three crimes are being alleged between Twins third baseman Miguel Sano and Raudy Omar Sanchez de la Cruz in the Dominican Republic.

Sanchez de la Cruz says Sano kidnapped, assaulted and threatened to kill him last month. In response, Sano claims that Sanchez de la Cruz raped Sano’s eight-year-old stepbrother and is now fabricating the other allegations as part of a blackmail attempt.

No charges or lawsuits have been filed. As reported by El Nuevo Diario, Sanchez de la Cruz’s lawyer says that Sano and three of his associates were supposed to meet with a prosecutor this week, but skipped the appointment.

Sano confirmed that much, telling the newspaper that he missed the meeting with prosecutors because he was told about it at the last second. But he denied the other allegations, saying that Sanchez de la Cruz and another stepbrother have been sexually abusing his young brother, and that Sanchez de la Cruz and his lawyer are trying to extort him.

Sano told the local newspaper that Odalis Ramos, the lawyer for de la Cruz, is demanding 10 million Dominican pesos (roughing $170,000) to drop the accusations. In turn, Sano is threatening to sue Ramos for 30 million pesos.

Sano contributed 34 homers to the Twins’ record-breaking 304 last season.

The Twins say they are aware of the report and are in the process of gathering more information.

“We will continue to monitor the situation and hope to have more as it becomes available,” Twins spokesman Dustin Morse said in a statement.

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