Reds Minor Leaguer Rahier arrested

Cincinnati's 2012 second-round pick charged with aggravated assault

By Danny Wild

March 9, 2015

Reds prospect Tanner Rahier was arrested Saturday and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and disorderly conduct after he allegedly knocked a woman unconscious with a rock outside a restaurant in Glendale, Arizona, police said.

He has since been released from jail.

Rahier, 21, allegedly threw a rock at a woman in the parking lot outside Pullano's Pizza following an argument. According to KPHO.com, the woman had been dating Rahier for about a month and was with him at the restaurant, which is about 25 miles northeast of the Reds' Spring Training complex in Goodyear, Arizona.

According to the report, Rahier was intoxicated and refused to pay his bill when he started to argue with the woman, whose name was not released. She managed to get Rahier outside into the parking lot, where he reportedly began throwing rocks at her. According to KPHO, the woman was hit by a rock on the left side of her head, knocking her unconscious and leaving a cut. AZCentral.com reported Monday night that one of the rocks that allegedly struck the victim was eight inches in diameter.

Police said Rahier, who was under the influence when the alleged assault occurred, denied throwing rocks at the woman and told police he doesn't know her. Glendale police spokesman Sgt. David Vidaure said Rahier ran from the scene, but police apprehended him near the restaurant, according to AZCentral.

The woman was taken to a hospital and doctors said she may need stitches, police told the website.

Rahier was taken to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, which listed him as in custody for "aggravated assault with a deadly weapon/dangerous instrument," "assault: reckless with intent to injure" and "disorderly conduct -- fighting." KPHO said the third baseman is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday.

Rahier, the Reds' second-round pick in the 2012 Draft out of Palm Desert High School in California, has appeared in 274 Minor League games over three seasons. He hit .238 with nine homers, 54 RBIs and a .298 on-base percentage in 117 games last year with Class A Dayton. In 2013, also at Dayton, he batted .222 with seven homers and 61 RBIs in 106 games after making his Minor League debut in 2012 with the Rookie-level Arizona League Reds.

UPDATE: The Reds issued the following statement on Wednesday, March 11:

As a result of a March 7 arrest, Reds minor league player Tanner Rahier has been placed on unpaid administrative leave by the Commissioner's Office, pending an investigation of these allegations.

Upon conclusion of that investigation, Mr. Rahier may be subject to appropriate discipline.

In the meantime, Mr. Rahier has been directed to comply with treatment prescribed by the Reds' Employee Assistance Program. The team will ahve no further comment until appropriate.

Danny Wild is an editor for MiLB.com. Follow his MLBlog column, Minoring in Twitter.