Dirk Hayhurst has broken his silence over his sudden and mysterious departure from Serie A1, Italy’s professional baseball league.
The former Toronto Blue Jays pitcher announced on Sunday via Twitter that he had returned to the United States.
I’m back in the states. I regret I had to leave Italy for personal & professional reasons that I cannot fully disclose at this time.
— Dirk Hayhurst (@TheGarfoose) March 18, 2012
In short: contract violations, feral cats, the polizia, lost euros, a better job, gelato, and a man who screwed a cow… I was sad to leave
— Dirk Hayhurst (@TheGarfoose) March 18, 2012
Hayhurst was scheduled to be the opening-day starter for Nettuno on March 30.
Wednesday on Sportsnet Tonight with Jeff Sammut on Sportsnet 590 the Fan, Hayhurst – who was planning on writing a book based on his Italian experiences — said left the country to accept a media job in the United States.
"It’s so lucrative, it would be stupid to pass up," he told Sammut. "I had to take it."
Hayhurst added his Italian club is "furious" with him for leaving given how difficult it is for them to attain work visas for American players.
SPORTSNET 590 AUDIO: Dirk Hayhurst on Sportsnet Tonight