NEW York Yankees pitcher Aroldis Chapman was hit with a 30-game ban Tuesday over a domestic violence incident in which he allegedly choked his girlfriend before firing off gunshots into his garage.

    A statement from U.S. Major League Baseball (MLB) said the 28-year-old had agreed to the suspension for violating the league’s joint domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy.

    It followed an incident in October in which police were called to Chapman’s Miami-area home after an altercation between the player and his girlfriend.

    More than a dozen police officers were sent to Chapman’s home where his girlfriend was discovered cowering in bushes outside the property.

    MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said Chapman had been banned after a comprehensive review of the facts of the case.

    “After reviewing the staff report, I found Chapman’s acknowledged conduct on that day to be inappropriate under the negotiated policy, particularly his use of a firearm and the impact of that behavior on his partner,” he said in the statement.

    Chapman, who is not facing criminal charges over the incident, accepted the punishment.

    The Yankees welcomed the MLB sanction in a statement.

    “The New York Yankees support the decision made by the commissioner today,” the Yankees said.

    “We are pleased that Aroldis has accepted this discipline.”

    Chapman last week insisted his girlfriend was not harmed in the incident. “I haven’t hurt anybody. In general, I never hurt anybody. Never in my life.”

    (SD-Agencies)