PITTSBURGH — Channel 11 has learned exclusive new details about a violent nightclub attack.
Police say the victim was punched in the face, knocked unconscious and ended up in the ICU.
Channel 11’s Gabriella DeLuca learned that the suspect in this case plays for a local baseball team.
“My client who plays baseball, who is a wonderful person, wonderful pitcher…”
Phil DiLucente is talking about his client, Sebastian Rodriguez, who is a pitcher for the Washington Wild Things baseball team.
For the last week, Rodriguez has been behind bars at the Allegheny County Jail after investigators say he punched a man inside Cavo nightclub in the Strip District.
According to investigators, that single punch was caught on surveillance camera, and DiLucente says his client was acting in self-defense.
The video was supposed to be played in today’s preliminary hearing, which was postponed due to the lack of an interpreter for Rodriguez. He is from Puerto Rico.
“The video will show that my client extended his arm and his hand, which touched the cheek of this individual; however, there’s always two sides to the story,” DiLucente said.
That one punch, according to detectives, caused injuries so severe that the victim has been in the ICU since he was hit.
He’s had multiple brain surgeries, has a critical brain hemorrhage, and continues to have seizures.
“The family, as well as the client, is very hopeful for a speedy recovery for this victim," DiLucente said.
Rodriguez is still listed on the Wild Things roster, but the team has not responded when we asked for a statement
Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.
Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
©2025 Cox Media Group
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/XCUXZC2XYZHCRGNNGKFEX6U3LQ.png)
