An 18‑year‑old former St. Joseph’s University baseball player has filed a civil complaint alleging that he was stripped naked, physically assaulted and humiliated by teammates during a team trip in March.
The lawsuit names St. Joseph’s University, head coach Thomas Caputo, assistant coach Elliot Robles and 30 unidentified teammates, accusing them of a coordinated campaign of hazing, bullying and negligent supervision.
A Pattern of Hazing
According to the complaint, the incident began after the team arrived at a hotel in Myrtle Beach, where several players forced the victim to remove his clothing, placed dirty underwear on his face and then subjected him to a violent assault.
Witnesses and an internal investigation later corroborated the victim’s account, but the coaches took no disciplinary action against the perpetrators, while the plaintiff was suspended from the program.
The filing also references a history of similar misconduct within the baseball program, suggesting that the university’s culture tolerated abuse and failed to enforce accountability.
University officials have acknowledged the lawsuit and indicated they will respond through the appropriate legal channels, but have declined to comment further pending the outcome of the case.