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Rangers Notes: Prospects Held Up in Dominican Republic

Posted on March 12th, 2009 7:08pm by Evan Grant
Filed under Farm Report, Texas Rangers

PEORIA, Ariz. – Five of the Rangers’ Latin American prospects may be late for minor training camp because Major League Baseball is looking into accusations that a number of players lied about their age before obtaining visas from the Dominican Republic.

General manager Jon Daniels confirmed that five of the 42 players currently being denied travel visas are Rangers prospects, but he declined to name which players were not in camp as of Thursday. Minor league camp officially begins Friday.

The group of detainees, however, does not included prized young left-hander Martin Perez, Daniels said. Right-hander Wilmer Font, another highly-regarded pitcher, is also in camp.

Daniels said he is hopeful the players will all be cleared for entrance soon, but the Rangers know all too well the problems of running afoul of the Department of State. Pitching prospects Omar Beltre and Alexi Ogando have been denied entry for the last four years because of their roles in a marriage fraud scam.

14 Comments to “Rangers Notes: Prospects Held Up in Dominican Republic”

C'mon Rangers!!! @ March 12th, 2009 at 7:36 pm

Hopefully all this gets resolved quickly. When do the Rangers expect a decision on Beltre & Ogando?
Evan Grant @ March 12th, 2009 at 8:18 pm

There is no timetable on Beltre/Ogando, as we reported last week, but if they don’t get any “traction” on the matter by this summer, I can’t imagine the Rangers holding on to their rights any longer.
MikeYoungFan1992 @ March 12th, 2009 at 8:36 pm

thanks for all the latest breaking travel arrangement news. will you let us know when we can use the airplane’s toilet?
Evan Grant @ March 12th, 2009 at 9:02 pm

When the fasten seat belt light is turned off.
Adam @ March 12th, 2009 at 9:18 pm

Please tell me that Boscon, Telis and Pimentel are in camp? Please!
Evan Grant @ March 12th, 2009 at 9:37 pm

Will check tomorrow. Promise.
Jolly @ March 12th, 2009 at 9:42 pm

I am really amazed that Hicks had no last minute pardon chit with Bush…….If you can’t get a pardon for a baseball player then what in the hell are friends for? This is disturbing on many fronts………An outrage for our Rangers……..This is more outrageous than those steroid parties with the blondes…..
Evan Grant @ March 12th, 2009 at 10:00 pm

@Adam: Breathe a little easier. I’m told Wilfredo Boscan, Tomas Telis and Carlos Pimentel are not among the delayed Dominican Five. We’ll hopefully have a full list tomorrow morning.
Adam @ March 12th, 2009 at 10:06 pm

Thanks Evan.
Kevin @ March 12th, 2009 at 10:15 pm

Evan,

Any indication when the minor leaguers will be playing or out on the fields tomorrow? Also any indication on the rosters for the split tomorrow (trying to decide if I should stay in Surprise or go to Glendale)?
Evan Grant @ March 12th, 2009 at 10:33 pm

@Kevin: Minor leaguers should be on the back fields most of the day at Surprise. As for travel squads: It appears most of the starting lineup players will be going to Glendale, paired with mostly fringe pitchers (Doug Mathis, Brendan Donnelly, Elizardo Ramirez, Brian Gordon, Joe Torres, Casey Daigle and Thomas Diamond). In Surprise, you’ll have a mix of backups and young guys playing with Vicente Padilla, Warner Madrigal, Kason Gabbard, Frank Francisco and Dustin Nippert toeing the slab.

My day will call for me to be in Surprise because, well, I can never get enough Royals-Rangers.
Kevin @ March 12th, 2009 at 10:54 pm

Thanks Evan,

Big time help! Love the new blog!
Mike Cooper @ March 13th, 2009 at 9:25 am

Evan, cant tell you how glad I am you’re covering the Rangers. Keep it coming.
Brian @ March 13th, 2009 at 2:05 pm

I’ll second Mike’s comments. Glad to see that you’re still on the Ranger’s beat, Evan. Keep up the good work.

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