The Pirates closer is accused of soliciting a 15-year-old girl to meet for sex once the season ends and providing obscene items to minors.

Pirates' Felipe Vazquez arrested, charged with solicitation of a minor


Pirates closer Felipe Vazquez has been arrested and charged with solicitation of a minor.

According to court documents obtained by CBS Pittsburgh, Vazquez, 28, is accused of sending a 15-year-old Florida girl a message suggesting the two meet up for sex once the baseball regular season is over.

He's also been charged with computer pornography and one count of providing obscene material to minors by Lee County, Florida, officials.

Vazquez was arrested Tuesday morning in Pittsburgh. He was taken to the Allegheny County Jail, where he will face extradition to Lee County.

Court documents state that an investigation into Vazquez began in August when law enforcement obtained information that Vazquez had started a sexual relationship with a girl who was 13. The girl, now 15, continued the relationship with Vazquez through text and video messaging.

Vazquez allegedly sent the girl a video of him performing a sex act in July, on top of the promises that they would meet up after the baseball season was over.

Armed with a search warrant, several electronic devices were seized and more charges could follow depending on what forensic investigators find.

The Pirates released a statement shortly after Vazquez's arrest, saying they have informed the Commissioner's office of the charges and that he will be placed on administrative leave immediately.

"(Tuesday) we were made aware of an active law enforcement investigation involving Felipe Vazquez and his subsequent arrest," the Pirates said. "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 (sic) 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."

Vazquez is a two-time All-Star who currently has a 1.65 E.R.A., 28 saves and 90 strikeouts with the Pirates this season. He signed a four-year, $22.5 million contract with the team in 2018.