Nationals suspend assistant hitting coach Jacque Jones due to legal issue

The Washington Nationals announced Friday night that assistant hitting coach and former major-league outfielder Jacque Jones has been suspended indefinitely with pay due to a legal issue.

The team is conducting its own investigation into the matter.

Minor-league hitting coordinator Troy Gingrich has taken Jones' place as Washington's assistant hitting coach, beginning with Friday's National League Division Series opener against the Chicago Cubs.

While the Nationals did not specify the nature of the issue, Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post reported that Jones is the subject of a civil lawsuit in California. According to Janes, an unnamed plaintiff is alleging that Jones was in possession of pictures "of Plaintiff's naked breasts" that he allegedly promised he would not share. It's then alleged in court documents obtained by the Post that Jones "intentionally distributed the photos without Plaintiff's consent."

Jones spent 10 seasons as a player in the major leagues for four teams, including seven years with the Minnesota Twins, and posted a .277/.326/.448 slash line with 165 home runs over his career.

The 42-year-old has served as the Nationals' assistant hitting coach for the past two seasons.