Edwin Encarnación inducted into La Romana Hall of Fame amid legal disputes

Former Major League Baseball player Edwin Encarnación was inducted into the La Romana Sports Hall of Fame, though he was not present to receive the honor. His mother, Mireya Altagracia Rivero, accepted the recognition on his behalf during the Class of 2026 ceremony.

Encarnación’s absence comes amid significant personal and legal turmoil. He is currently undergoing a divorce from communicator Karen Yapoort and is involved in a legal dispute regarding a violent incident in La Romana. Journalist Ramón Tolentino reported that physical evidence, including 12 spent 9mm shell casings and an intact projectile, was found near the scene of a shooting that occurred on September 1.

The legal case involves conflicting accounts. Complainants allege that Encarnación fired shots at their vehicle near Casa de Campo, filing a complaint for attempted homicide. Conversely, the defense claims that Encarnación’s security detail discharged weapons to repel an attempted vehicular assault by others. The investigation has also drawn criticism regarding the initial handling of the crime scene by local authorities.