Blue Jays: Reese McGuire pleads guilty to disorderly conduct

CLEARWATER, FLORIDA - MARCH 05: Reese McGuire #10 of the Toronto Blue Jays walks through the dugout during the fourth inning of a Grapefruit League spring training game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Spectrum Field on March 05, 2020 in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
CLEARWATER, FLORIDA - MARCH 05: Reese McGuire #10 of the Toronto Blue Jays walks through the dugout during the fourth inning of a Grapefruit League spring training game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Spectrum Field on March 05, 2020 in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /
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Toronto Blue Jays catcher Reese McGuire has resolved his court case pleading guilty to a lesser charge.

According to Shi Davidi of Sportsnet, Blue Jays backstop Reese McGuire pled guilty to Disorderly Conduct and received a $450 fine. McGuire was arrested back on February 07th in a strip mall parking lot where it was alleged he was exposing his genitals inside his vehicle.

The 25-year old was initially charged with Exposure of Sexual Organs by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. McGuire has yet to address the media and fans in regard to the incident but stated he would more than willing once the matter was finalized in court.

McGuire is expected to share the catching responsibilities with Danny Jansen this season after an impressive showing in 30 games with the big club. The tandem has the ability to be one of the best catching duos in the game on both sides of the diamond.

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McGuire hit .299/.346/.526 with 12 extra-base hits including five homers in 105 plate appearances last season. The backstop also threw out five of a would-be 19 base stealers for a caught stealing percentage of 26%.

The 25-year old hit .247/.316/.366 with five homers in 72 games for the Buffalo Bisons last season prior to his late-summer call-up. McGuire is a career .261/.325/.347 hitter in seven seasons in the minors.

The Blue Jays acquired McGuire along with Francisco Liriano and Harold Ramirez back in 2016 from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for pitcher Drew Hutchison. The Pirates selected McGuire 14th overall in the 2013 amateur entry draft from Kentwood High School in Covington, Washington.

I would expect that McGuire will publicly address the incident in the coming days so it can be laid to rest and does not become a distraction to the team as they prepare for the start of the 2020 season.

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Hopefully, with his legal troubles behind him, the former first-rounder can focus on baseball and put the unfortunate indiscretion behind him.