Los Angeles (AFP) – Former Major League Baseball pitcher Esteban Loaiza, a two-time All-Star who won 126 games playing for eight teams, has been arrested in California on drug charges, authorities said.
The Mexican-born Loaiza, 46, was arrested on Friday, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department said, and is to appear in court on Wednesday.
Bail has been set at $200,000.
Loaiza, who won 21 games for the Chicago White Sox in 2003, is accused of possessing more than 40 pounds (20 kilograms) of heroin and cocaine for sale.
Loaiza was named an All-Star in 2003 and 2004 and finished second to the late Roy Halladay in the vote for the American League Cy Young award in 2003.
He retired in 2008 and finished his 14-year career with a 126-114 record.
Loaiza, who hails from Tijuana, earned more than $40 million during his professional baseball career, according to baseball-reference.com.
He is the second-winningest MLB pitcher from Mexico after Fernando Valenzuela, who won 173 games in the Major Leagues.
Loaiza married the singer Jenni Rivera in 2010. Rivera died in a 2012 plane crash.
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.