Pittsburgh's All-Star Closer, Felipe Vazquez, Arrested for Solicitation of a Child
All the frustration and anger that fans have been feeling over the Pirate's woes on the field pale in comparison to the news that broke today. Felipe Vazquez, one of the best overall players the Pirates have, was arrested and has been accused of having a long-distance, sexual relationship with a 13-year old girl in Florida.
According to the statement from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Vazquez sent the victim, who is now 15, a video which shows him performing a sexual act. He also suggested via text message that he and the victim meet for sex after the season is over. Vazquez is currently being held in the Allegheny County Jail and is awaiting extradition to Lee County, Florida.
As a closer, Vazquez has been fantastic since joining the Pirates via the Mark Melancon trade in 2016. He has been an all-star and touted as one of the best closers in the game. This season, Vazquez has 28 saves (3 blown), a 1.65 ERA, and a 0.93 WHIP.
Vazquez was a hot name during the trade deadline as rumors swirled that the rebuilding Pirates may deal him. It appears now that the decision to hold onto Vazquez was a missed opportunity. He has been placed on administrative leave and will likely be released from the team shortly.
Pittsburgh Pirates President Frank Coonelly issued the following statement regarding Felipe Vazquez:
Vazquez was in the news earlier this month after getting into a fight with teammate Kyle Crick after a loss. According to Crick, Vazquez was the aggressor and threw the first punch. The fight resulted in Crick needing season-ending surgery.
Vazquez's arrest puts a exclamation mark on a tumultuous season off the diamond for the Pirates. Manager, Clint Hurdle, has historically run a turmoil-free clubhouse with a group of well-liked players who represented the team and the city well. The embarrassment that these issues, particularly the actions leading to Vaquez's arrest, cannot be understated. If a team is going to lose, a fanbase can often hold onto the "lovable loser" moniker. This year, Pittsburgh Pirates fans have very little to take pride in, and that needs to change.