A local baseball player, Sebastian Rodriguez of the Washington Wild Things, currently faces charges of assault following an incident that left a man with critical injuries in a Pittsburgh nightclub.
According to the criminal complaint reported by WTAE, the attack occurred at Cavo Nightclub in the Strip District on August 31, where the victim suffered "significant facial trauma" after being punched by Rodriguez. The victim was unconscious and had to undergo multiple brain surgeries because of a cerebral hemorrhage, alongside a host of other injuries they including a skull base fracture. Rodriguez has been charged with aggravated assault, and despite the severity of the incident, his attorney Phil DiLucente claims self-defense, as evidenced by surveillance footage that DiLucente says will vindicate his client.
The postponed preliminary hearing, due to the need for an interpreter for the Puerto Rican native player, was to exhibit the video footage that allegedly shows Rodriguez extending his arm and his hand, which "touched the cheek" of the victim, according to Phil DiLucente in an interview with WPXI. "However, there’s always two sides to the story," DiLucente said, emphasizing the defense's position that Rodriguez was not the aggressor.
Rodriguez continues to be listed on the Wild Things roster, though the team has yet to make any public statements regarding the incident; this lack of response comes even as the victim remains in the ICU, his condition precarious with multiple brain surgeries under his belt and continual seizures.
