Hearings on sex charges, extradition set for suspended Pirates pitcher Felipe Vazquez

A Westmoreland County judge will hear evidence next week to determine whether suspended Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Felipe Vazquez can be extradited to Florida to answer sexual assault charges.

Later that same day, Vazquez is scheduled to appear before East Huntingdon Magisterial District Judge Charles Moore for a preliminary hearing on similar charges involving allegations that he had improper sexual contact with an underage girl in Pennsylvania.

Vazquez, 28, of Pittsburgh was arrested in September on a warrant issued by police in Lee County, Fla., accusing the All-Star pitcher of sending sexually explicit photos to a teen girl and soliciting sex via text message. Hours later, he was charged with sex crimes related to allegations he engaged in sexual activity in August 2017 with a then 13-year-old girl in Scottdale.

Common Pleas Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio was to hear arguments Thursday concerning Vazquez’s extradition to Florida. That hearing was delayed until Tuesday.

The delay is to allow an out-of-state lawyer hired by Vazquez to be certified to practice law in Pennsylvania, according to a court filing Wednesday from attorney Bill McCabe, who is serving as the pitcher’s local lawyer.

County prosecutors have said they want to resolve the Pennsylvania charges against Vazquez before he is extradited to Florida.