Inside The Red Sox

Ex-Red Sox Hurler Reportedly Arrested In Child Sex Solicitation Sting

The right-hander was one of over two dozen men arrested
Scott Neville|
Apr 9, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; A general view of Fenway Park before the Boston Red Sox
Apr 9, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; A general view of Fenway Park before the Boston Red Sox | Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports

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A former member of the Boston Red Sox is facing some serious allegations after a sting operation led to the reliever's reported arrest along with 26 others.

"A former Boston Red Sox pitcher is one of more than two dozen men recently arrested in a child sex solicitation sting, police in Florida announced Monday," NBC Boston's Ashley Klein wrote. "Austin Dean Maddox was arrested April 28 on four felony charges, according to inmate records: traveling to meet after using a computer to seduce/solicit/lure a child; soliciting a child by computer; unlawful use of a communication device; and producing or promoting a performance that includes sexual performance by a child."

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office released a video containing both footage of the arrests as well as some narrative background regarding the operation -- watch at your own discretion.

Maddox spent his entire professional career with the Red Sox -- though his big-league tenure was nothing more than a cup of coffee.

The 33-year-old posted a 0.52 ERA with a 14-to-2 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .200 batting average against and 0.86 WHIP in 17 1/3 innings for Boston in 2017.

After appearing to be a star in the making, the right-hander battled shoulder inflammation in spring training the following season. Maddox eventually came off the injured list to throw 7 2/3 innings in rehab games -- the last time he would throw a baseball at the MLB or MiLB level in his career.

The shoulder issues continued, and forced him to have season-ending surgery in 2018 and he was never able to return to form after the fact. He retired prior to the 2020 season. His story has been peculiar for years but his arrest certainly was an unexpected twist.

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Scott Neville
SCOTT NEVILLE

Scott Neville covers the Boston Red Sox for Sports Illustrated's new page "Inside The Red Sox." Before starting "Inside The Red Sox", Neville attended Merrimack College, where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Communication and Media with a minor in Marketing. Neville spent all four years with Merrimack's radio station WMCK, where he grew as a radio/podcast host and producer.  His propensity for being in front of a microphone eventually expanded to film, where he produced multiple short films alongside his then-roommate and current co-worker Stephen Mottram. On a journey that began as a way to receive easy credits via film classes, he received a call from "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia" star Charlie Day. Day advised him to make a feature-length film, which he completed his senior year. While writing the film, Neville completed an internship for United Way as part of their NFL Partnership Program. Neville ran the blog for a team of interns and hosted an internet show called "United Way's NFL Partnership Series" where he interviewed NFL alumni. After college Neville wrote for SB Nation's "Over The Monster," a Red Sox sister site of the flagship brand. His work would eventually lead him to a job as a content producer with NESN, where he would cover all sports. After developing as a writer with the top regional network in the world, he was given the opportunity to join the Sports Illustrated Media Group in his current endeavor as the publisher of "Inside The Red Sox." The successful launch and quick rise of "Inside The Red Sox" led to Neville joining the Baseball Essential ownership group, a national baseball site under SIMG. Follow him on Twitter: @ScottNeville46 Email: nevilles@merrimack.edu

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