Blue Jays' Edwin Encarnacion will fight claims made by woman in suit

The agent for Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion said a lawsuit that claims his client gave sexually transmitted diseases to a woman is "completely inappropriate and meritless."

"[Encarnacion] will take every legal measure to defend himself against this frivolous claim, and will bring appropriate claims in the appropriate forums against all of the individuals seeking to exploit his financial position," Paul Kinzer said in a statement, according to multiple media reports. "This is an unacceptable attack on his exceptional character and stellar reputation within the baseball community as a man who carries himself with the highest level of integrity."

TMZ Sports reported on Monday that a 24-year-old woman filed suit against Encarnacion and is seeking $11.5 million in damages. In the suit, according to TMZ, the woman claims she had multiple sexual encounters with Encarnacion in the Dominican Republic in February and contracted two STDs.

The woman is a family friend of Encarnacion and met him in 2013, TMZ reported.

"Mr. Encarnacion will not be commenting on this matter," Kinzer wrote in the statement. "He will not allow this to distract from his continued focus of contributing to his team's success. We kindly ask that his privacy be respected."

Encarnacion, who leads the American League in RBIs with 101, has hit 35 or more home runs in four of the past five seasons. He is making $10 million this season in the final year of his contract.