TEMPE, ARIZ. — Gary Matthews Jr. allegedly was sent a shipment of human growth hormone three years ago, according to the second report in two days linking the Angels' new center fielder to performance-enhancing substances.
Matthews spoke with reporters for about two minutes at the Angels' training camp Wednesday morning, saying he did not know how his name surfaced in a nationwide government investigation into illegal drug distribution.
"At the appropriate time, I will address the matter," Matthews said.
On Tuesday, following raids at several Florida pharmacies, the Albany Times-Union reported Matthews was a customer of an Alabama pharmacy whose owners have been indicted by a grand jury in that state. On Wednesday, Sports Illustrated reported that the Alabama pharmacy sent human growth hormone to Matthews in 2004, according to law enforcement documents reviewed by the magazine.
Baseball bans human growth hormone now but didn't then, although the substance is illegal to possess without legitimate medical supervision. Even if prosecutors can prove Matthews received the shipment and can persuade him to testify against distributors in exchange for immunity, major league officials might not be able to suspend him.
Matthews took part in base-running drills and batting practice but had left training camp by the time Wednesday's report surfaced, leaving club officials scrambling to respond for the second time in 24 hours.
"It's certainly a difficult situation when you have to piecemeal information, when you're hearing it for the first time the public at large is hearing it," Angels spokesman Tim Mead said.
Matthews said his agent, Scott Leventhal, would work with the players' union to obtain more information. Leventhal did not return repeated calls for the second consecutive day.
Matthews said he has not retained an attorney, and union spokesman Greg Bouris would not say whether the union would handle legal representation.
"I'm not really in a position to answer any questions on [Tuesday's] story," Matthews said. "I do want to say that I do expect it to resolve itself here in the near future, pretty soon."
Asked whether he had ever used performance-enhancing substances, accidentally or otherwise, Matthews said, "I haven't read the story myself and I don't have all the information. Until I get more information, that's my position."
