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Toronto Blue Jays catcher Reese McGuire accused of ‘exposing himself’ in Pinellas County

Deputies were summoned to a parking lot in Dunedin “for a subject seen sitting inside an SUV and exposing himself,” deputes reported.
Toronto Blue Jays' Reese McGuire, shown in a 2019 game, has been accused by law enforcement of exposure of sexual organs in Pinellas County. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Toronto Blue Jays' Reese McGuire, shown in a 2019 game, has been accused by law enforcement of exposure of sexual organs in Pinellas County. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) [ JULIO CORTEZ | AP ]
Published Feb. 12, 2020|Updated Feb. 13, 2020

Reese McGuire, a catcher for the Toronto Blue Jays, was accused by law enforcement of exposing himself last week.

McGuire, 24, was given a notice to appear in court on a charge of exposure of sexual organs, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office reports.

At about 2:15 p.m. Friday, deputies were summoned to a Dollar Tree parking lot in the 900 block of Patricia Avenue in Dunedin after a woman called to report a man masturbating in an SUV parked there.

Deputies arrived and “could clearly observe the male subject was naked from the waist down. The subject’s shirt tail was barely covering his genitals and his sweatpants were around his ankles,” a report states.

Deputies said the man, who they would soon identify as McGuire, saw them approaching and “was hastily trying to pull his pants back up.”

Deputies told him to “make himself decent” and exit the SUV, a 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC with no window tint. He did and repeatedly said “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, this is really embarrassing,” reports state.

In interviewing McGuire, deputies found that he had come to the parking lot after a practice. The Toronto Blue Jays spring training complex is in Dunedin.

Deputies also saw a pornographic video on his phone and learned he was staying at an apartment less than a mile from the parking lot. They asked him why he chose to do what he did in a busy parking lot rather than at home.

“I pointed out that he was in a vehicle with no tint, and parked in the busiest portion of the parking lot, surrounded by cars on all sides and masturbating at 2 p.m. on a Friday afternoon,” one deputy wrote.

Deputies said McGuire told them he didn’t intend for anyone to see him but that “it was stupid,” reports state.

McGuire is scheduled to appear in court March 16 in Clearwater.

McGuire was a first-round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2013, going 14th overall. He was traded to the Blue Jays in 2016 and was promoted to the the major leagues in 2018. He played most of 2019 at AAA, but did play 30 games at the major league level, hitting .299.

McGuire was expected to potentially platoon as starting catcher this year for the Blue Jays. The team said it was aware of the report and was waiting for more information.