Count Los Angeles Dodgers rookie phenom Yasiel Puig among those bullied in a pro sports locker room, according to teammate J.P. Howell.
The 30-year-old pitcher told Sports Illustrated he witnessed the 22-year-old Puig being bullied in the Dodgers' clubhouse throughout the season, though he declined to name what teammates it involved or what was actually done to Puig.
"This guy is such a champion," Howell told SI of Puig. "He has such a big heart. Sometimes he acts like a jerk, but that is his defense mechanism. It's not really him."
When it comes to his own clubhouse ordeals, Howell, 30, was more forthcoming, recalling for SI a time during his rookie year when he returned to his stall to find his only suit shredded by a teammate as part of a practical joke. Making matters all the more depressing for the veteran pitcher was the fact the suit had been given to him as a gift from his father.
"I didn't know how to handle the situation," Howell told SI. "I wish I could have. I was distracted. I was scared to be around him in the gym. If you're intimidated by somebody because of their actions, that's bullying."
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