Mets reliever Francisco Rodriguez violated restraining order by sending text messages to girlfriend, prosecutors say

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Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez sent 56 text messages to his girlfriend in recent weeks, violating a restraining order he received following his alleged attack on her father last month, prosecutors said at a hearing for Rodriguez’s third-degree assault and harassment charges Tuesday in Queens Criminal Court.

The former Angels star will face additional charges of criminal contempt for sending the messages, the prosecutors said. Rodriguez’s attorney, Christopher Booth, said the pitcher was unclear he wasn’t supposed to try to resolve the conflict with Daian Pena, the mother of their 1-year-old twins, on his own but corrected the problem once he was made aware.

Judge Robert Raciti denied a request to send Rodriguez to jail for sending the messages but ruled that he would be jailed if he communicates with Pena again.

Pena never responded to the text messages, which were mostly apologetic and non-threatening. According to assistant district attorney Scott Kessler, some of the messages included:

-- ‘I know this message will get me in trouble, but I’ve already lost my kids... . Let’s find a solution to this conflict.’

-- ‘Your parents are manipulating you like a marionette.’

-- ‘I understand perhaps I made a mistake, the biggest mistake of my life. But I love you.’

Rodriguez, who did not speak during the hearing, was told to return to court Oct. 7.

-- Chuck Schilken

The Associated Press contributed to this report.