Esteban Loaiza #25 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Sept. 16, 2007. (Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images)
A former All-Star baseball pitcher was arrested on Friday, Feb. 9, in San Diego after police found him with more than 44 pounds of cocaine, Yahoo Sports reported.
Police initially found “sophisticated aftermarket compartment used to conceal contraband” during a routine traffic stop. Investigators then obtained a warrant to search Loaiza home where they found the alleged cocaine. Loaiza has been living in the home, which is steps away from an area pre-school, since February, TMZ Sports reported.
The drugs have an estimated street value of $500,000.
Pitcher Esteban Loaiza #28 of the Texas Rangers poses for a studio portrait on Photo Day during Spring Training at the Charlotte Stadium in Port Charlotte, Florida. (Scott Halleran /Allsport)
Loaiza was booked into the San Diego County Jail. He faces three felony charges: possession of cocaine over 20 kilograms, possession of cocaine for sale and transportation of cocaine. He is due in court on Wednesday, San Diego Tribune reported.
Loaiza was pulled over for a minor traffic infraction by members of the sheriff’s crime suppression team. Loaiza was driving a car suspected to be part of a smuggling operation, according to sheriff’s Lt. Jason Vickery.
Loaiza pitched in the Major Baseball League for 14 seasons for teams including the Pirates, Rangers, Blue Jays, White Sox, Yankees, Nationals, Athletics, and Dodgers. Loaiza was with the White Sox when he played in his two All-Star games. He earned over $43.7 million in his major league career, according to ESPN.
Starting pitcher Esteban Loaiza #21 of the Chicago White Sox throws a pitch to a Minnesota Twins batter in the sixth inning during a game at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago on April 27, 2003. The White Sox won 3-1. (Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
Loaiza came in second after voting for the American League Cy Young award. He finished that season, one of his best, with a 21-9 record and a league-leading 207 strikeouts.
Loaiza was previously arrested in 2006 when he played for the Oakland Athletics. He was driving 120mph in a Ferrari and failed a sobriety test.
Loaiza was married to singer Jenni Rivera in 2010 and appeared in her reality show, “I Love Jenni.” Rivera died in a plane crash in 2012. She was in the process of divorcing Loaiza at the time.
