José Offerman

He has not played or managed professional baseball in the United States since 2007. On August 14, 2007, while playing for the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, Offerman was thrown out of a game against the Bridgeport Bluefish for charging Bluefish pitcher Matt Beech with a bat after he was hit by a pitch. Beech sustained a broken finger in the resulting melee. Bluefish catcher John Nathans was also hit in the back of the head during the bench-clearing melee, receiving a severe concussion that effectively ended his playing career.^[4] Beech and Nathans were taken to Bridgeport Hospital where they were treated and released. After being removed from the game, Offerman was arrested by the Bridgeport Police.^[5]

On August 15, 2007, he was suspended indefinitely. The independent Atlantic League announced on August 17, 2007, that Offerman would remain suspended at least until the legal case was resolved.^[6]

On September 24, 2007, Offerman pleaded not guilty to two second degree assault charges.^[7]

His case was pending in Bridgeport Superior Court GA#2 in Bridgeport, Connecticut. On October 30, 2007, Offerman was given two years special probation called "Accelerated Rehabilitation." The Court determined that his actions on August 14, 2007, were of an aberrant nature. The Court also found that Offerman is not likely to offend again in the future.^[8]

Nathans filed a $4.8 million civil suit against Offerman in February 2009, alleging that he still has post-concussion syndrome and that the injury caused by Offerman ended his baseball career.^[9][10] On July 29, 2014, Nathans won his suit, and Offerman was ordered to pay $940,000.^[11]

On 16 January 2010, Offerman once again engaged in an on-field assault when he struck an umpire while managing a LIDOM game.^[12] Offerman, manager of the Tigres del Licey, came onto the field during the third inning while losing a 6–0 game to the Gigantes del Cibao, to protest ejection of his catcher for arguing balls and strikes and ended up arguing with first-base umpire D.J. Reyburn. He swung with a right hook at Reyburn, who then fell to the ground. Offerman was detained by stadium security, eventually being transported to the local police station to await the end of the game and Reyburn's decision whether to ask for charges to be pressed against him or not.

A day after the incident, the American crew that umpired the game resigned their positions with LIDOM and left the country, reportedly due to threats and concerns about their own safety. Because of this incident Offerman received a lifetime ban from LIDOM, a suspension that was eventually lifted in February 2013.^[13] Coincidentally, at the time he was suspended, Offerman was replacing Dave Jauss as Licey manager after Jauss was suspended himself for two years for bumping an umpire during a playoff game.^[14]

On February 6, 2024, Offerman joined the Conspiradores de Querétaro of the Mexican League as their manager.^[15] He was awarded the 2024 Mexican League Manager of the Year Award.^[16]

On June 6, 2025, it was announced that Offerman would be leaving the team, and would be replaced by Rafael Rijo.^[17]

On July 21, 2025, Offerman was hired as the manager for the Algodoneros de Unión Laguna of the Mexican League, replacing Carmelo Martínez, who had been serving in the interim.^[18] On October 7, Offerman was fired by the Algodoneros.^[19]