Former Blue Jays Outfielder Raúl Mondesi Sentenced to Nearly Seven Years for Corruption

Raúl Mondesi, a former outfielder for the Toronto Blue Jays, has been sentenced by a Dominican court to six years and nine months in prison, along with a $507,000 fine, for corruption during his tenure as mayor of San Cristobal, according to the Associated Press.

Mondesi will not serve additional jail time as he has been under house arrest for six years following a 2017 decision. Initially, he was sentenced to eight years, as reported by Hector Gomez.

Mondesi was elected mayor of San Cristobal in 2010, serving six years. His political career began in the country’s Chamber of Deputies. Now 53, Mondesi reached a deal with prosecutors who accused him of embezzling $5 million while mayor, as noted by the Associated Press.

Mondesi’s MLB career started in 1993 with the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he played for seven years and won the 1994 National League Rookie of the Year award during his first full season. The Blue Jays acquired him in 1999 via trade from the Dodgers. Mondesi played parts of three seasons with the Blue Jays before being traded to the New York Yankees. Over his career, he played for seven MLB teams.

Mondesi concluded his MLB career with 271 home runs and 229 stolen bases, appearing in more than 1,500 games and making one All-Star Game appearance before retiring in 2005. His son, Adalberto Mondesi, also played in MLB and is currently a free agent. Adalberto won the World Series with the Kansas City Royals in 2015.

Meanwhile, the Blue Jays are facing a challenging season and are expected to trade several players ahead of the trade deadline.