Baseball star arrested ‘for soliciting sex from a 13-year-old girl in his car outside her house after he groomed her online’ – Pirates pitcher Felipe Vázquez, 28, is charged with statutory sexual assault
MLB player Felipe Vázquez, 28, is charged with statutory sexual assault ‘for trying to have sex with a 13-year-old girl in his car outside her house after he groomed her online’
Pirates relief pitcher Felipe Vázquez was arrested Tuesday in Pittsburgh after allegedly engaging in a sexual relationship with a 13-year-old female who resides in Florida
Police reportedly seized several electronic devices at Vázquez’s apartment
The investigation began last month after Florida police ‘obtained information that Vazquez had a reported sexual relationship with a 13-year-old female’
Police say that girl, now 15, recently received text messages from Vazquez, who reportedly suggested they could meet for sex after the season
On one occasion Vázquez allegedly tried to have sex with the teenage girl while they were in his car, ‘but was unsuccessful’
The Pirates have placed Vazquez on administrative leave, and banners with his image were removed from the area surrounding PNC Park in Pittsburgh
While awaiting extradition to Florida he remains in the Allegheny County Jail and is charged with statutory sexual assault of a minor, unlawful contact with a minor, and corruption of minors,
He also faces a misdemeanor count of indecent assault of a person less than 16 years old
Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Felipe Vázquez has been charged with soliciting a child. Vasquez, 28, reportedly met his 13-year-old female victim on social media, and once drove to her Pennsylvania home and unsuccessfully attempted have sex with her in his car, according to an incident report.
Th major league baseball player was arrested Tuesday morning at his apartment in Pittsburgh on a felony warrant that was issued in Lee County, Florida, where the victim now lives.
The MLB All-Star remains in the Allegheny County Jail and is charged with statutory sexual assault of a minor 11 years or older, unlawful contact with a minor, and corruption of minors, as well as a misdemeanor count of indecent assault of a person less than 16 years old.
According to an incident report from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the victim connected with Vázquez on social media when she was 13 and the two continued communicating over the last three years.
At one point, the victim told investigators, Vázquez drove to her Pennsylvania home and pulled down her pants while they were in his car. From there, Vázquez allegedly placed her on his lap and ‘attempted to penetrate her vagina with his penis, but was unsuccessful.’
The incident report says the reported incidents occurred between July 29 and Aug. 1 before being reported Aug. 5.
Investigators say the girl also allegedly received a video in July from the pitcher in which he is shown performing a sex act. The arrest warrant affidavit says investigators were able to identify Vázquez by comparing photos of his tattoos.
On another occasion, Vázquez invited the victim to PNC Park in Pittsburgh, where the two took pictures together outside the team’s bullpen.
Is he a pedophile? The All-Star is facing several felony charges, including sexual assault of teen he allegedly met at PNC Park

Over the three years the two were in contact, the alleged victim’s family moved to Florida, where authorities ‘obtained information that Vázquez had a reported sexual relationship with a 13-year-old female.’
Venezuela born Vázquez is also accused of performing a sex act in a video that he sent to the girl in July, according to police. Police seized several electronic devices at his Pittsburgh apartment.
Police say that girl, who is now 15, recently received text messages from Vazquez, who reportedly suggested they could meet with each other after the season for sex.
A hearing will take place on September 25 to determine if Vázquez will be extradited to Florida, his attorneys told CBS Pittsburgh.
‘On Thursday, August 8, 2019… a female child 15 years of age received sexually explicit photographs and a video text message from Felipe Vázquez,’ the arrest affidavit read. ‘The victim was also solicited by the suspect to participate in illegal sexual conduct.
‘Although Vázquez’s face does not appear in any of the texted photographs, police were able to identify him by his tattoos. The alleged victim also repeatedly refers to him as ‘Felipe.”
The Pirates released a statement on Tuesday.
‘Today we were made aware of an active law enforcement investigation involving Felipe Vázquez and his subsequent arrest,’ the statement read. ‘We take this matter, and these charges in particular, extremely seriously.
‘We have informed the Commissioner’s Office of the investigation and arrest. The Commissioner’s Office will immediately place Felipe Vazquez on Administrative Leave (and, as a result, Restricted List) pursuant to the Joint MLB/MLBPA Policy. We need to be respectful to all involved and the ongoing legal proceeding. As a result, the organization, our staff and players cannot comment any further at this time.’
‘A lot of different emotions were stirred up today, in a lot of different places,’ Hurdle said. ‘How do we connect and support our way through those emotions, how do we continue to improve and hold ourselves to a high standard on and off the field.’
Vázquez will continue to be paid while on administrative leave, but there remains a chance his contract could be voided if he is convicted of a crime.
He is owed $5.25 million for the 2020 season and another $7.25 million for 2021. The Pirates also have options on Vazquez for 2022 and 2023.
Vázquez has been the National League’s most dominant reliever over the last few years. In addition to his two All-Star nods, the hard-throwing lefty currently boasts a minuscule 1.65 earned-run average, which would be the best in baseball had he enough innings to qualify.
In a separate incident, Vázquez reportedly punched teammate Kyle Crick earlier this month. Crick then injured his finger in the ensuing melee, and has since undergone season-ending surgery.
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