Former MLB closer and 1996 World Series MVP, John Wetteland, has been indicted on a charge of continuous sexual abuse of a child. The Forth Worth Star-Telegram reported the indictment on Thursday, March 29, 2019.
Wetteland, 52 at the time of the report, was arrested in January. He posted a $25,000 bond and was released from jail the same day. According to a consolidated complaint and probable cause affidavit, Wetteland is accused of having a child perform a sex act on him, beginning in 2004 when the child was 4 years old. The accuser stated that the act occurred twice more during a two-year period.
Wetteland achieved significant success during his baseball career. He was the 1996 World Series MVP for the New York Yankees, closing out all four victories against the Atlanta Braves. He also holds the record for the most saves for the Texas Rangers. Wetteland retired after the 2000 season and was inducted into the Rangers Hall of Fame in 2005.
During his 12 MLB seasons, Wetteland played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Montreal Expos, Yankees, and Rangers. He accumulated 330 saves with a 2.93 ERA.
After retiring from professional baseball, Wetteland worked as a baseball coach at Liberty Christian High School in Texas. He later served as a bullpen coach for the Seattle Mariners and the Washington Nationals. He was fired from the Nationals job in 2006, reportedly for playing too many practical jokes, according to news sources. In 2009, while with the Mariners, he was briefly hospitalized for what was initially believed to be a “mental health” issue. The Mariners later clarified that the issue was related to his heart and blood pressure.
Jim McNeff is a freelance writer and former managing editor of Law Enforcement Today.