John Wetteland played 12 ML seasons, later faced trial
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John Wetteland made the majors over 12 seasons. He became an all-star and World Series MVP.
Years after his retirement, in 2019, he was arrested, accused of child sexual abuse. Wetteland denied the allegations.
The case went to trial in 2022, the jury deadlocked and prosecutors ultimately dismissed the case, determining a guilty verdict upon retrial would be unlikely.
Wetteland's baseball career began in 1985, taken by the Dodgers in the second round of the January secondary phase draft out of the College of San Mateo.
He made AA San Antonio in 1988, then Los Angeles in 1989. He saw 31 outings, 12 stars that year and had a 3.77 ERA. He returned to Los Angeles for 22 outings in 1990 and also saw eight at AAA Albuquerque.
Wetteland moved to the Expos for 1992 and saw 67 relief outings. He saved 37 games that year, starting a run of nine-straight campaigns where he saved 25 or more games.
He arrived with the Yankees for 1995. He saved 31 games that year and then 43 in 1996, his first year as an all-star. That October, he was named World Series MVP as he saved all four wins for the Yankees.
Wetteland arrived with the Rangers for 1997 and played his final four seasons there. He became an all-star in 1998 and 1999. Wetteland's last season came in 2000. He saw 62 relief appearances, went 6-5 and saved 34 games to end his career.
He later served as a bullpen coach for the Nationals and Mariners, his last recorded time in 2010 with Seattle.
It was in January 2019 that Wetteland was arrested. He was accused of continuous sex abuse of a child under the age of 14. The specific allegations involved a child from 2004 to 2006, starting when the child was 4.
Wetteland testified at trial that the accuser's account was a lie, The Associated Press wrote. The jury ultimately deadlocked. A mistrial was declared and the charges ultimately dropped.
- Associated Press, Sept. 4, 2022: Mistrial in abuse case in Texas against ex-MVP Wetteland
- NJ.com, March 28, 2023: Child sexual assault charges dropped against ex-Yankees pitcher
Made the Majors:1,455-31.7%-X
Never Made Majors:3,131-68.3%