Padres prospect reportedly loses work visa after pleading guilty to transporting undocumented immigrants

Humberto Cruz, a 19-year-old pitcher ranked by MLB Pipeline as San Diego’s No. 5 prospect , pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge related to taking money to transport undocumented immigrants within the United States, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune . Cruz, a Mexican national, is reportedly now back in Mexico after acknowledging in his plea agreement that it was a “virtual certainty” he would be deported from the U.

S. Per the Union-Tribune, it is the Padres’ understanding that Cruz has lost his work visa for 10 years, with the ability to reapply after five years of good behavior. Cruz released a statement through the Padres apologizing for his “recent lapse in judgement,” the entirety of which can be read below.

Cruz was reportedly arrested Oct. 28 near the town of Lukeville, Arizona, after U. S.

Border Patrol noticed his BMW SUV heading southbound with only a driver, then northbound with two new passengers a short time later. The agents were reportedly suspicious a vehicle could make it to the Lukeville Port of Entry and back so quickly and stopped the car. Both passengers reportedly turned out to be undocumented immigrants.