Pittsburgh Pirates’ left-handed pitcher Felipe Vazquez was arrested on felony solicitation charges involving a minor – one count of computer pornography – and one count of providing obscene material to minors on Tuesday morning.
According to a statement released by the Pirates, the closer has been placed on administrative leave, following an investigation that began last month.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement was tipped off to a sexual relationship between 28-year-old Vazquez and a now-15-year-old girl from Lee County, Florida, who was 13 when the relationship began.
The two maintained a relationship via text, in which Vazquez reportedly sent a video performing a sex act in July. He also said he planned to meet the girl in-person for sex at the end of the regular season.
The girl’s mother discovered the text messages in July, two weeks prior to the start of the investigation. Although Vazquez did not show his face in the photos and videos sent to the girl, officials were able to identify him from distinguishable tattoos.
Police seized Vazquez’s electronic devices to be examined for further evidence.
Vazquez is a two-time All-Star, who ranks sixth in the National League for saves with 28 and holds a 1.65 ERA this season. He also holds a Pirates franchise record with most saves by a left-handed pitcher (37) for the 2018 season.
