Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Felipe Vazquez was arrested Tuesday in Pittsburgh and is being charged with multiple felonies in both Pennsylvania and Florida, including statutory sexual assault.

Vazquez was initially charged with “computer pornography/soliciting a child” and “providing obscene material to minors” by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

He was arraigned Tuesday afternoon in Pittsburgh and was denied bail, with the judge saying she was told that additional charges were expected.

Vazquez was subsequently charged in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, with three felonies — statutory sexual assault of a minor 11 years or older; unlawful contact with a minor; and corruption of minors — as well as one misdemeanor, indecent assault of a person less than 16 years old.

The FDLE issued a statement saying it began its investigation into Vazquez in August after obtaining information that he reportedly had a sexual relationship with a 13-year-old girl in Lee County, Florida. The girl, now 15, allegedly was continuing to have a relationship with Vazquez via text messaging and received a video from him in July in which he is shown performing a sex act, according to the police statement.

The police affidavit says the girl’s mother found texts, photographs and the video sent by Vazquez to her daughter. On July 23, the mother “sent a text message, to include a screenshot of the photographs” to Vazquez to inform him that her daughter was a minor.

Vazquez has been put on administrative leave by Major League Baseball, though sources told ESPN that the league is not launching an immediate investigation because it plans to use the police’s findings in pursuing potential discipline for Vazquez.

“Today we were made aware of an active law enforcement investigation involving Felipe Vazquez and his subsequent arrest,” Pirates president Frank Coonelly said in a statement. “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 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.”

The arrest was made by the FDLE with assistance from the Pennsylvania State Police. Several electronic devices were seized by police and will be examined as part of the investigation, with more charges possible for Vazquez.

The arrest warrant was issued in Lee County, Florida. Vazquez is in the Allegheny County Jail in Pittsburgh.

The administrative leave is pursuant to MLB’s joint domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy. A player can remain on leave up to seven days, but it can be extended if MLB and the MLB Players Association agree to it.

Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said he and team management met with players before Tuesday night’s game against Seattle.

“We talked about a lot of different emotions that were stirred up today in a lot of different places,” Hurdle said, “and how do we connect and support our way through those emotions. How do we continue to find ways to improve and hold ourselves to a high standard on and off the field. And what can we do from an organizational standpoint to help with any questions, any thoughts.”

Vazquez, the Pirates’ closer, is 5-1 with 28 saves, 90 strikeouts and a 1.65 ERA this season. He is a two-time All-Star selection and is signed with the Pirates through at least 2021.

Vazquez will be paid while on administrative leave, but the Pirates could attempt to void his contract. However, past efforts by teams to nullify deals, even in cases of illegal behavior, have proven difficult. He is owed $5.25 million for the 2020 season and $7.25 million for 2021. The Pirates also hold $10 million options on the 2022 and ’23 seasons — the first with a $1 million buyout and the second a $500,000 buyout.

Vazquez was among the most sought-after players before the July 31 trade deadline, with multiple teams pursuing him. The Pirates held out for an enormous asking price, valuing Vazquez — and especially the four years of team control — as one of the best assets in baseball. Teams found the Pirates’ demands exorbitant, and Vazquez remained with Pittsburgh.

ESPN’s Jeff Passan and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

All-Star Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Felipe Vazquez was arrested for allegedly exchanging obscene material with an underaged girl, dating back to when she was just 13, authorities said Tuesday.

The 28-year-old Vazquez, who makes his off-season home in Saint Cloud, Florida, was booked for solicitation of a child, providing obscene material to minors and possession of computer pornography, according to a statement by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

He was arrested at about 11 a.m. in his Pittsburgh apartment on Tuesday. He made a brief appearance in court about five hours later, when a judge denied him bail.

The relief pitcher has been under investigation since August “after agents obtained information that Vazquez had a reported sexual relationship with a 13-year old female victim who resides in Lee County,” according the Florida Department of Law Enforcement statement.

“The victim, now 15 years of age, was continuing to have a relationship with Vazquez via text messaging and received a video in July from him in which he is shown performing a sex act,” the Florida state police said.

“Additionally, Vazquez allegedly sent the victim text messages suggesting they would meet for sex after his baseball season was over.”

Vazquez was taken to the Allegheny County Jail and prosecutors will seek to have him extradited to Lee County, Florida, where the case will be prosecuted by the Office of the State Attorney, 20th Judicial Circuit.

A heavily redacted arrest warrant affidavit from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office included at least two blacked-out still pictures, allegedly sent by Vazquez to the minor.

“Although the photographs and video did not depict the suspect’s face, the images depicted numerous tattoos about the suspect’s body” and they match “publicly available images of the suspect,” according to the affidavit signed by Florida Department of Law Enforcement Special Agent Orlando Esquibel and Lee County Judge Tara Paluck.

“The victim’s mother discovered the messages, photographs, and video the suspect sent the victim,” the warrant continued. “On July 23, 2019, the victim’s mother sent a text message to include a screen shot of the photographs to the suspect informing him the victim was a minor.”

A deputy report from Lee County alleges that Vazquez met the victim at PNC Stadium in Pennsylvania, where the Pirates play, and took a photograph outside the bullpen and then later connected on social media.

The victim claimed that the pitcher allegedly drove to her old residence, “pulled her pants down while they were inside his car, placed the victim on top of his lap” and attempted to have sexual intercourse with her, according to the deputy report.

Pirates President Frank Coonelly in a statement Tuesday said that the team takes “this matter, and these charges in particular, extremely seriously.”

Charges were also filed against Vazquez in Westmoreland County in Pennsylvania stemming from an offense on August 1, 2018, according to court records. Vazquez was charged with statutory sexual assault, indecent assault of a person less than 16 years of age, corruption of minors and unlawful contact with a minor.

NBC affiliate WPXI in Pittsburgh reports that the charges in Westmoreland stem from the same case filed in Lee County.

Vazquez’s agent didn’t immediately comment. Major League Baseball Players Association declined comment.

Vazquez, playing for the last-place Pirates, has become one of baseball’s best relief pitchers. A two-time All-Star, he is in the midst of a four-year, $22 million contract that will pay him $4.5 million this season and $5.75 million in 2020.

Vazquez hasn’t pitched since last week.

Thabo Matlaba of Orlando Pirates during the 2017/18 Absa Premiership football match between Bidvest Wits and Orlando Pirates at Bidvest Stadium, Johannesburg on 23 September 2017 ©Gavin Barker/BackpagePix

Police arrested a prominent national soccer star on an assault charge on February 26.

Thabo Matlaba, who plays for Orlando Pirates, is alleged to have committed the crime in Phomolong Section in November last year.

Rabie Ridge SAPS communications officer Captain Mofana Masela said Matlaba was expected to make his first court appearance on February 27.

The soccer star is facing a case of assault with the intention to cause grievous bodily harm.

Masela said is it alleged that on November 11, 2017, at about 11.30pm, Thabo Matlaba invited his friend to join him in Phomolong, from where Matlaba took the friend to Kwamashaya.

It is claimed that Matlaba’s girlfriend arrived at the tavern and a fight ensued between Thabo’s friend and Thabo’s girlfriend.

“The complainant in the case, who was also at the tavern, alleges she tried to separate Thabo’s friend and Thabo’s girlfriend to stop them from fighting,” said Masela.

Masela said the complainant told Thabo’s friend to leave.

According to the complainant, Matlaba attacked her, hitting her with his fists and kicking her to the ground.

“The complainant sustained serious injuries to the face and allegedly some of her ribs were also broken.”

Matlaba was arrested and charged and was supposed to make his first appearance at the Tembisa Magistrate’s Court on February 27.

“A case was opened by Kagiso SAPS and transferred to Rabie Ridge SAPS. The suspect was arrested on February 26 in the evening,” Masela explained.

But according to Masela, the case was never placed on the court roll as some of the information was incomplete.

“There is a case of assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm against Thabo Matlaba. He was taken to court on the morning of February 27.

“The case couldn’t be placed on the roll because of a lack of certain important information, so it was sent back to detectives at Rabie Ridge SAPS for further investigation and to complete the information required by the court,” Masela confirmed.

“Police will take the case back to the Tembisa court for a new date. The suspect and the witnesses will be informed about the developments regarding the first appearance and trial.” he said.