MLB starts behavioral profiling after Belcher incident

New York, NY, United States (4E Sports) – Major League Baseball has started gathering information regarding behavioral profiles from the Jovan Belcher tragedy that will enable teams to identify players who may need assistance or intervention.

According to sources, the move stemmed from the recent incident that rocked the National Football League when Belcher, a Kansas City Chiefs linebacker, killed his girlfriend before shooting himself in the head in front of team officials.

The four biggest professional sports leagues – NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB — are sharing information and using FBI behavioral analysis in an effort to compile a better profile of a player or former player in trouble.

Data shows that 80 MLB players or former players have committed suicide, 54 from self-inflicted gun wounds.

Recently, former Yankees pitcher Hideki Irabu killed himself inside his home in Palos Verdes, California. He pitched in the major leagues for six years from 1997-2002, including three years with the Yankees.

Belcher killed girlfriend Kasandra Perkins before shooting himself in front of Chiefs general manager Scott Piolo, head coach Romeo Crennel and an assistant coach in the parking lot.

Later, it was discovered that Belcher had been engaged in an employee assistance program six to eight weeks before his death.

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