Omar Vizquel, a Hall of Fame candidate and a former White Sox who managed teams in the Sox’ minor league system in 2018 and ‘19, is being investigated by Major League Baseball for allegations of domestic abuse against his wife that date to 2016.
Vizquel, 53, was booked in January 2016 on charges of fourth-degree assault in King County, Washington, an incident for which he was not prosecuted. Blanca Vizquel, 36, has discussed allegations of abusive behavior with Telemundo and told The Athletic the former shortstop physically abused her multiple times over the last decade. She left him in August and filed for divorce.
MLB’s investigation into the incident in Washington is ongoing.
Vizquel has denied his wife left him because of domestic violence, and in a statement Wednesday to the New York Post said, “Let me be clear and unequivocal. I have never hit or been violent towards my wife, Blanca. Any accusation to the contrary is false.”
Vizquel, who is no longer employed by a major league club, was the Tigers’ first-base coach in 2016, the Sox’ Class A Winston-Salem manager in 2018 and the manager at AA Birmingham in 2019. Vizquel played for the Sox in 2010 and 2011 toward the end of a 24-year career.
Investigators are also investigating a 2019 incident involving a male team employee when Vizquel was managing Birmingham. The Sox terminated Vizquel shortly after the end of the season.
Vizquel collected 2,877 hits and was a three-time All-Star. Entering his fourth year on the Hall of Fame ballot, Vizquel received 52.6% of vote support in 2020, short of the 75% needed for induction.
