Angel Villalona, a highly-touted prospect in the San Francisco Giants' system, is the prime suspect in a killing. The Associated Press is reporting the 19-year-old has turned himself into authorities in the Dominican Republic. He is a suspect in the shooting death of a 25-year-old man, Mario Felix de Jesus Velete, in a La Romana bar.
Villalona could face up to 20 years in prison, if he's found guilty of the crime. He will have a court appearance Monday.
Villalona first signed with the Giants when he was 16. This past season, in advanced Single-A, Villalona hit .267 with nine home runs, 42 RBI and a .704 OPS in 74 games.
He still has some work to do on plate discipline, as he struck out 73 times and walked just nine. He has been projected as a potentially solid major league power hitter down the line (in a few years) by some scouts.
Depending upon how things shake out regarding this incident, he may never have that chance.
The Giants have offered the following response:
"The Giants were disappointed to learn that there was an incident in the Dominican Republic last night in which an individual was killed and one of our minor league prospects, Angel Villalona, may have been involved. We will monitor the situation closely and trust that the judicial process in the Dominican Republic will resolve the matter promptly and fairly."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
9-20-2009 @ 10:34PM
silsmyins19 said...
i feel bad for this guys i was his teammate this last season and he is a great guy i hope truth comes out villa i'll keep in my prayers....
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9-21-2009 @ 2:51PM
STARWARS13raul said...
you played in the major or minor leagues??
9-21-2009 @ 5:51PM
db1219 said...
You may be a somewhat decent baseball player, but you couldn't pass a fifth grade English class. Please, pick up a book or two during the off-season and learn how to spell and write. Text messaging is not how it is done. I will bet that you are unable to read your contract and need assistance with the notes that your coach leaves for you.
9-21-2009 @ 5:51PM
sergeantruss said...
You actually might want to give some of the sympathy to the guy he shot.
9-21-2009 @ 11:03PM
nik7667 said...
silsmyins19.. My freshman football coach was charged an convicted of murder right after our season two years ago, I knew him basically my whole life... He was the most mild mannered man Ive met so as you can imagine I was pretty shocked when I found out. So in a way I understand your feelings. Over time the evidence became overwhelming and my faith in his innocence had withered. It turned out that he killed the man,his alleged friend, by shooting him in the face around 5 times over a drug deal. He also had a girlfriend outside of wedlock and an illegitimate kid, along with 3 other kids with his wife. The point of my story is you'd be surprised about what people are like behind closed doors..
9-21-2009 @ 11:14PM
wl944s said...
Quick! Get him signed up for MLB or the NFL. That way he will only have to pay a fine and 100/hrs of community service for murder.
9-21-2009 @ 11:17AM
olddutchlofts said...
I always wondered how they get these immigrants into the States and Ive always wondered what kind of background they have. Afterall, their not all Angels.
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9-21-2009 @ 1:47PM
skakith26 said...
That's right! This one was a Giant! HEE HAAWWW!
9-21-2009 @ 3:20PM
dragonfyre96 said...
Neither are many, many of us Americans.
9-24-2009 @ 8:39AM
xuxu812 said...
Immigrants?! Us immigrants are hard working folks and very honest! Not like some lazy americans that think that they deserve everything!You should really expand and explore your boundries! Ignorant
9-21-2009 @ 2:06PM
HELIODORO VELA said...
I WILL ONLY HOPE THAT HE IS INOCENT VILLALONA HAS A LOT TO OFFER REGARDLESS WHAT EVERYONE MIGHT SAY
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9-21-2009 @ 2:07PM
rickday73 said...
"He still has some work to do on plate discipline"...heh heh. I'd say he has bigger discipline problems to worry about than those at the plate.
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9-21-2009 @ 2:15PM
Linda said...
I have noticed over the past several years, that the athletes of today, think they are all above the law! People love them at their sport, but truly don't know what kind of people they really are! Rapists, murderers, dog killers, drug addicts, etc.
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9-21-2009 @ 4:05PM
JUST MASH RJAKE said...
Linda,
the only ones that are murderers, rapists, dog killers, drug addicts, etc. are the athletes from the NBA and NFL. How many times have you seen a baseball, hockey, of MMA fighter for that matter in the headlines for something criminal? Not very much. get your facts straight and dont hate because you dont have the opportunity to play professional sports. youre probably a communist that thinks everyone should make $25,000/year. Get a life and stop trying to make a statement that holds no validity.
9-21-2009 @ 2:27PM
Wilson said...
I don,t have any sympathy for anyone who has a break in life where they can make life beautiful for themselves and goof it up doing something stupid. I hope he is innocent and takes full advantage of this huge opportunity before him.
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9-21-2009 @ 2:27PM
louis j butz said...
sad to always hear vabout someone killing someone,what and the hell is going on in the world
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9-21-2009 @ 7:29PM
E.K. Wong said...
The world has been going like this for quite some time. I would say that people have been killing each other since the dawn of mankind (you know...how the Neanderthals were wiped out by us Homo Sapiens etc. etc.)...the Crusades...Roman Empire killings...U.S. Civil War...Terrorism...really humans haven't changed much in nature. You feel me? I'm sorry to hear about a man who died from a gunshot and that this guy might be a suspect, but hey it happens. Welcome to Life.
9-21-2009 @ 2:51PM
chrissy said...
He turned himself in, people. What innocent man turns himself in?
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9-21-2009 @ 2:56PM
okehult said...
Chrissy - what the F? You mean only guilty people turn themselves in? What a stupid statement.
9-21-2009 @ 3:04PM
Travis said...
uhhh if you were innocent, then why the hell would you turn yourself in. I have never killed anyone therefore why would I turn myself in. Apparently he knows he did something wrong. Def. will have to agree with chrissy on this one. Also, lets use the death penalty if he did kill someone.
Peace