The bad news keeps getting worse for St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Tyler Bighames. Already suspended for the first 50 games of the 2010 season as a result of testing positive for a drug of abuse as announced last month, the 18-year-old is now in trouble with the law as well.
At 2:30 A.M. on New Year’s Day, the 31st-round selection from the 2009 draft was arrested in Estero, Florida for DUI, resisting arrest without violence, speeding and driving in the wrong lane.
A report filed by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office noted that Bighames’ yellow Ford Mustang was weaving “from one lane of traffic to another,” and nearly hit two parked cars while driving 50 mph in a 30 mph zone.
After being stopped, Bighames fled from the scene. As he tried to jump over a fence, the officer used his taser to subdue the athlete. Two breath tests registered results of .234 percent and .223 percent blood-alcohol content. That translates to nearly three-times the Florida legal limit of .08 percent to operate a motor vehicle.
The Naples (FL) News did not receive a reply from the Cardinals when inquiring as to what actions the organization may be planning in response.
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Wow, sounds like he is having some issues focusing. Hopefully he can find a good mentor and get things back on track. A lot of guys have these problems, regardless of whether or not they are exceptionally skilled baseball players, so he is not alone. He has time to learn and bounce back, hopefully he can do it.
I guess we’re seeing why a guy with Tyler’s physical attributes lasted until the 31st round.
Tyler, Dude! If you’re reading this: WAKE UP!
I think he’s done. The bar’s closed. He nicked the Cards for ~$100k, but I’ll be surprised if he ever suits up for this organization again.
Bighames also had a scholarship to attend the University of Oregon, so that may have been part of the reason he lasted until round 31. In hindsight, perhaps a few years in the structure of college life might have been better to help him to get away from home and grow up. No doubt professional athletes have a lot of time on their hands…
I think back to when I was 18, and try to imagine myself with a big roll of cash in my pocket, driving around in a yellow mustang. No way that would have ended well. But it wouldn’t have happened. If I had turned down a scholarship for $100k my dad would have broke both my arms and both my legs so I wouldn’t have passed the physical. Too bad he wasn’t off playing winter ball somewhere. Sad story.
$100 K would buy a lot of taxi rides–the running away from the cops is the worst part.