Former Minnesota Twins star Miguel Sanó is distancing himself from his father, who is wanted by Dominican Republic authorities for the murder of his ex-girlfriend.
Ricardo Aponte was caught on camera gunning down Yajaira Henderson, 36, in front of a store in San Pedro de Macoris on Sunday night.
Sanó, a free agent, said Tuesday that he learned of the killing through the local media from his native country.
'I've been in the United States this off-season entirely focused on getting ready for the upcoming baseball season,' he said in a statement. 'I became aware of my estranged biological father's situation in the Dominican Republic through the media just like the general public did.'
Miguel Sanó (pictured), who spent 12 years in the Minnesota Twins organization prior to becoming a free agent in November 2022, is distancing himself from his biological father, Ricardo Aponte. Aponte is wanted in the Dominican Republic for murdering his ex-girlfriend Sunday evening
Miguel Sanó (center) revealed in a statement Tuesday that his biological father, Ricardo Aponté (right), did not raise him as a child
Sanó revealed that Aponte was not a part of his childhood and that he had always carried his mother's surname.
'To be clear, his name is Ricardo Aponte, he did not raise me as a child and I am proud to have my mother's last name, Sano,' he explained. 'The person who raised me as if he were my biological father is Francisco Ernesto Soriano.'
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ShareSanó relayed his condolences to the victims and their loved ones and said that he would not be commenting on the matter. The Dominican National Police said Aponte confronted Henderson at a colmadón, a business that typically resembles a grocery store, where she and her sister had gathered with friends to celebrate an acquaintance's birthday.
Aponte pulled Henderson out of the store and got into an argument after she told him that she was not going to be leaving with him despite his demands to do so.
Tensions flared when Aponte exchanged words with Henderson's party and then shot Yuly Guerrero, 28, and Juan Delgado, 35.
Yajaira Henderson (left) was shot dead Sunday in the Dominican Republic by Ricardo Aponte (right), whose son Miguel Sanó spent 12 seasons in the Minnesota Twins organization before becoming a free agent in November 2022
Ricardo Aponte (center), the father of major leaguer Miguel Sanó, aims his gun at his former girlfriend, Yajaira Henderson (right), before he shot her at least three times outside a business in San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic. Police have called on him to turn himself in. He remained at large as of Tuesday evening
Ricardo Aponte, the father of MLB free agent Miguel Sanó, flees on a moped moments after he murdered his former girlfriend
Henderson could be seen standing several feet away from the store as the shots rang out before Aponte approached her, aimed his weapon and shot her three times.
Aponte then boarded his moped and escaped.
Guerrero and Juan Delgado were rushed to a Antonio Musa Hospital, where they remain under observation with non-life threatening wounds.
The Dominican Republic National Police's southeast division said an operation for Aponte's capture is ongoing and asked that he 'turn himself in through the channels he deems appropriate.'
Sanó has remained unsigned after the Minnesota Twins declined to exercise the club option on his contract in November 2022.
He was scheduled to hold a showcase with several teams February 2, according to SKOR North.
Sanó, who spent 12 seasons in the Twins organization, suffered two knee injuries in 2022 and was limited to 20 just games. He hit .083 with one home run in 71 plate appearances.
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