Former Major League Baseball outfielder Blake Tekotte pleaded guilty to third-degree domestic assault, capping a case that began with a Valentine's Day incident at a Columbia residence and marking the second time in less than two years that the 39-year-old has faced a judge over allegations of violence against a domestic partner.
Tekotte, who is from Columbia and went on to a three-season major league career, was sentenced to five years of probation along with a four-year suspended prison sentence, according to ABC 17 News. He had originally been charged with first-degree kidnapping and third-degree domestic assault in February 2025, stemming from an incident in which he allegedly assaulted a woman after accusing her of infidelity, per court documents cited in that report.
The February 2025 case detailed a harrowing scene at a Columbia home. Court filings cited by 939 The Eagle state that Tekotte refused to let the woman leave before chasing her into a neighbor's yard, and that the confrontation only ended when the neighbor heard the commotion and pointed a firearm at him. Tekotte was held without bond following the incident, according to that same filing.
A Pattern Stretching Back to 2023
This was not Tekotte's first brush with the Boone County court system over domestic violence allegations. A case tied to a November 2023 incident, in which he was accused of strangling a woman and threatening her with death, ended when he pleaded guilty to second-degree domestic assault and second-degree kidnapping on August 25, 2025.
That earlier conviction resulted in an August 2025 sentence of probation and shock jail time, alongside a seven-year suspended prison sentence, as the court imposed 120 days in a substance abuse treatment facility, per a report from KRCG 13. Failure to complete that treatment carried the threat of up to ten years behind bars, that report noted.
What the Guilty Plea Means Under Missouri Law
Third-degree domestic assault includes attempting to cause physical injury or knowingly causing physical pain, illness, or impairment to a family or household member under Missouri Revised Statutes § 565.074. The statute carries a maximum penalty of up to four years in prison, according to the Scrivner Law Firm, which matches the suspended sentence handed down in Tekotte's latest case.
Section 922(g)(9) concerns qualifying misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence, so Tekotte's felony conviction does not automatically trigger a ban under that provision, according to the Hartley Law Firm.
From Hickman High Star to the Big Leagues
Long before his legal troubles, Tekotte was one of Columbia's most celebrated young athletes. He starred at David H. Hickman High School, where he played baseball and quarterback while also drawing college scholarship interest as a punter, according to his MLB.com player profile.
He carried that success to the University of Miami, playing for the Hurricanes from 2006 through 2008 and helping lead the team to two College World Series appearances. Miami Hurricanes Athletics notes he batted .353 with 13 home runs during his 2008 junior season, earning Baseball America Second-Team All-American honors that year.
The San Diego Padres selected Tekotte in the third round, 101st overall, of the 2008 MLB Draft. He made his major league debut on May 25, 2011, against the St. Louis Cardinals, according to Baseball Reference. He played for the Padres and Chicago White Sox. He later continued playing in minor league and independent ball.
