Ex-MLB star Omar Vizquel accused of domestic abuse by estranged wife Blanca: 'He spoke about buying a firearm'
Former baseball star Omar Vizquel’s estranged wife has reportedly accused him of domestic violence, with Major League Baseball (MLB) investigating the allegation. As per a Sun report, Blanca Vizquel spoke to The Athletic claiming that the 11-time Gold Glove-winning shortstop physically abused her numerous times for several years and when things became worse, she fled their home in Arizona in August before filing for a divorce. The 36-year-old reportedly took refuge in a Texas women’s shelter.
"I made a decision to leave the house and not come back. I didn’t want to feel that feeling where you didn’t know if you’re gonna be safe. It’s devastating because the person you love is supposed to protect you, and when (he’s) the one who’s hurting you … it’s like slow motion and you’re scared and then the police are there, and you know you can’t take it back,” Blanca said.
She also shared a live Instagram feed on October 7 in which she was telling her followers in Spanish that if she "had stayed [with him], he would have killed [her] because he spoke about buying a firearm to have it in the room."
“No one deserves to have violence against them,” she said.
Reports said that Omar exchanged vows with Blanca in 2014, but he allegedly began abusing her way before their marriage. An incident reportedly took place in 2011 when his wife confronted him for infidelity, but instead of apologizing, Omar allegedly held her down while "strangling" her. Police were also informed about the case, but no one was charged. Another such incident happened in 2016 at their Seattle area home when Blanca put dumbbells by the door to keep Omar out after a furious argument, but the former professional baseball shortstop broke in and pushed his wife so hard that it resulted in shin injury and several of her nails broke off.
The Athletic reported that after that incident, police charged Omar with fourth-degree domestic assault, but Blanca later changed her statement and charges were dropped as her husband allegedly threatened her to do so.
Now, Omar has been under probe by MLB that has also questioned family members of Blanca, who reportedly witnessed the alleged abuse over the years. "While Omar Vizquel has not been employed by a Major League organization for some time, we are aware of the allegations and will continue to look into them," the MLB told The Athletic in a statement.
While Omar issued a statement to The New York Post by a communications consultant that read: “Since the initiation of divorce proceedings with my wife, Blanca Garcia, she has taken to social media and the press to engage in a smear campaign against me designed to put pressure on the legal negotiations. In doing so, she seeks to portray me as someone that I am not. Throughout this unfortunate situation, I have been limited in my public statements, because I don’t believe that a public media battle is the way to proceed in the dissolution of our marriage. However, I must set the record straight again in light of today’s article in The Athletic. Let me be clear and unequivocal. I have never hit or been violent towards my wife, Blanca. Any accusation to the contrary is false.”
While regarding the divorce filing, Blanca said, “What he did was his choice and it wasn’t mine. If that’s going to destroy him, I’m sorry; that’s not my intention.” Besides the abuse allegations, MLB is also investigating Omar for an unspecified incident he had with a team employee while managing the Chicago White Sox's Double-A affiliate in Birmingham in 2019.