Giants prospect/murder suspect visa nixed
A San Francisco Giants first-base prospect has been stripped of his U.S. visa after he was charged with killing a man in his Caribbean homeland.
Pablo Peguero, the Giants' representative for Latin America, said yesterday that 19-year-old Angel Villalona can't join the team in the United States because the U.S. Embassy in the Dominican Republic has revoked his visa.
Dominican prosecutor Jose Antonio Polanco said Tuesday that Villalona offered the family of the man he allegedly killed nearly $140,000 to drop the case against him. He alleged the first baseman paid $55,000 and expected to offer another $83,000.
Polanco said the family viewed the payment as compensation for the killing of 25-year-old Mario Felix de Jesus Velete.
The family has not returned repeated calls seeking comment. Villalona, who has pleaded innocent to the murder charge, has declined to speak to reporters.
Police say Villalona, who received a $2.1 million signing bonus in his 2006 deal with the Giants, turned himself in 12 hours after the Sept. 19 bar shooting in La Romana. He could face up to 20 years in prison if found guilty.
Villalona was released last week on $14,000 bail after the family issued a statement saying it had accepted the money, Polanco said. A Dominican judge is expected to hear the case in about a month.
Villalona hit .267 with nine homers and 42 RBI in 74 games for Class A San Jose this year. Baseball America selected him as the Giants' top prospect before 2008.
Noteworthy
* Colorado declined a $5 million option on righthanded setup man Rafael Betancourt, who can now become a free agent.
* Milwaukee declined its $6.5 million option on Braden Looper, electing to pay a $1 million buyout to the 35-year-old righthander. He went 14-7 with a 5.22 ERA and allowed a major league-high 39 home runs and 123 runs.
* Toronto centerfielder Vernon Wells has had surgery on his left wrist and is expected to be ready for spring training.
* Seattle signed shortstop Jack Wilson to a 2-year, $10 million contract. Wilson was acquired from Pittsburgh on July 29.
