Angel

Villalona

Villalona, who is from the Dominican Republic, was considered one of this year’s top international prospects. Maybe it will look like a complete waste of money a few years from now, but it’s nice to see the Giants making a big investment in a young hitter. They don’t have a lot of offense on the way up.

His earlier option to High-A San Jose was voided, as he’s still awaiting a travel visa in his native Dominican Republic. He will continue to work out at the team’s complex for now.

According to Hank Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle, Villalona is not being viewed as an “elite athlete” because of an ongoing medical condition, and is thus struggling to gain approval. The 21-year-old corner infield prospect has been working out at the Giants’ Dominican academy since December and will continue to do so until he is cleared to travel to spring training.

As Andrew Baggarly of Comcast SportsNet notes, it’s a “pretty big clue that (Villalona’s) visa situation is a mess.” The 21-year-old corner infield prospect has been working out at the Giants’ Dominican academy since December and will continue to do so until the visa issue is resolved. He’s not remotely close to being big league-ready, anyway.

Villalona was added back to the 40-man roster in November after being cleared of murder charges in his native Dominican Republic and settling a lawsuit with the Giants, but he is still having issues obtaining a work visa. The Giants have not provided a recent update on his status.

Villalona, 21, hasn’t stepped foot in the U.S. since being arrested and charged with murder in his native Dominican Republic in September of 2009. He was eventually cleared of the charges and was added back to the Giants’ 40-man roster late last year after settling a lawsuit with the team. His star was fading even before the charges, so it’s doubtful he can get his baseball career back on track.

The San Jose Mercury News reported on Friday afternoon that Villalona’s U.S. work visa was approved, but it turns out it was only the first step in the process. While his application was approved by the immigration department, he still needs to go through consular interviews. The Giants remain hopeful that the former top prospect will be able to report to spring training with the rest of the hitters on February 24.

Well, here’s a surprise. Villalona hasn’t played professionally in two years after being charged with murder in his native Dominican Republic in September of 2009. He was eventually cleared of the charges due to lack of evidence and recently settled a lawsuit with the Giants which could allow him to resume his baseball career. However, because he is currently awaiting a work visa to enter the United States, his status is very much in limbo.

Villalona was put back on the Giants’ 40-man roster in November after murder charges in his his native Dominian Republic were dropped. While the 21-year-old will be in major league camp if he receives his visa, he hasn’t played a professional game in over two years and his stock as a prospect was falling even before his legal troubles.

It was his first pro game in three years. Villalona, who turns 22 in August, hasn’t stepped foot in the United States since he was charged with murder in his native Dominican Republic in September of 2009. He was eventually cleared of the charges and was added back to the Giants’ 40-man roster late last year after settling a lawsuit with the team. It’s not known when or if he’ll get a travel visa to return to the United States, but his status as a top prospect began to fade even before the arrest.