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Pittsburgh Pirates: Felipe Vazquez convicted on 15 sexual assault charges

By David Hill

Sep 11, 2019; San Francisco, CA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates closing pitcher Felipe Vazquez (73) stretches before the pitch against the San Francisco Giants in the ninth inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 11, 2019; San Francisco, CA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates closing pitcher Felipe Vazquez (73) stretches before the pitch against the San Francisco Giants in the ninth inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports /
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Back in September 2019, the baseball world was shocked when Pittsburgh Pirates‘ closer Felipe Vazquez was arrested on multiple charges of sexual assault of a minor. Police had alledged that he had begun a sexual relationship with a then 13 year old girl in 2017, and continued the relationship after she had moved to Florida a year later. The Pirates immediately placed Vazquez on the Restricted List, waiting for the conclusion of his legal battle before taking further action.

On Thursday, Vazquez was found guilty on 15 different sexual assault charges. He was also acquitted on ten counts of unlawful contact with a minor.

Former Pittsburgh Pirates closer Felipe Vazquez guilty on multiple charges

Vazquez still does not know his ultimate fate. He is expected to be sentenced in approximately three months as he faced the possibility of decades in prison and/or deportation to his home country of Venezuela.

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This does not mark the end of Vazquez’s legal woes. He still has charges pending against him in Florida since their relationship continued in that state after the victim moved. Vazquez is also potentially facing child pornography charges in Missouri due to photos he received from the victim while he was on the road in 2019.

At the time of his arrest, Vazquez was one of the hotter names in regards to trade rumors. He had emerged as a dominant closer in Pittsburgh, a two time All Star who was highly sought after at the trade deadline that year. However, the Pirates held on to Vazquez, feeling that they had not been offered enough for his services.

Those days are now far in the past. Vazquez will never see a major league diamond again, unless it is on television during his stay in prison. He certainly does not deserve anything better given the nature of the charges he has been convicted of.

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Former Pittsburgh Pirates closer Felipe Vazquez was found guilty on 15 sexual assault charges against a minor. Chances are, he will be in prison for a very long time.

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