“A guilty verdict” Ex-Pirate Felipe Vazquez rightfully sentenced, reality behind his insertion in MLB’s restricted list
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Felipe Vazquez
Former Pittsburgh Pirates’ pitcher Felipe Vazquez was found to be guilty of abuse charges stemming from a sexual relationship with a 13-year-old girl in 2017. He was sentenced for at least two to four years behind bars for statutory sexual assault and child pornography, among other charges. The victim moved to Florida in 2018 and Vazquez attempted to continue the relationship there.
Felipe Vazquez was an All-Star in 2018 and 2019 before his arrest, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement launched an investigation into Vazquez in August. It alleged Vazquez had exploited a 15-year-old girl in Lee County, Florida, since she was 13.
According to USA Today’s report, “The jury in Westmoreland County late Thursday returned a guilty verdict on 15 of the charges facing Vazquez, including statutory sexual assault, unlawful contact or communication with a minor, indecent assault and corruption of a minor. Investigators said the incidents occurred in 2017, when the girl was 13 and 14.”
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All-Star becomes child abuse offender, Felipe Vazquez, rightfully sent to prison
The 31-year-old Felipe Vazquez was one of the most dominant relievers in baseball over the past three years before his arrest. The season he was arrested, he was 5-1 with a 1.65 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 28 saves in 31 opportunities. He had also struck out 90 batters in 60 innings.
USA Today continued their report on Vazquez, “During three hours of testimony Thursday, Vazquez, 29, maintained that he was unaware the girl was a minor during their relationship, which began in 2017 when she reached out on Instagram to wish him a happy birthday.”
Following Felipe Vazquez’s arrest Pittsburgh Pirates’ president Frank Coonelly said in a team release, “Today we were made aware of an active law enforcement investigation involving Felipe Vazquez and his subsequent arrest, we take this matter, and these charges in particular, extremely seriously.”
Pirates President continued, “We have informed the Commissioner’s Office of the investigation and arrest. The Commissioner’s Office will immediately place Felipe Vázquez on Administrative Leave (and, as a result, Restricted List) pursuant to the Joint MLB/MLBPA Policy.”
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