Baseball Guru
02-19-2002, 03:02 PM
02/19/02
Paul Hoynes
Plain Dealer Reporter
Winter Haven, Fla.
- Bartolo Colon did more than gain a few pounds this winter. He gained a year as well.
Colon, the Indians' No. 1 starter, went from 26 to 27 after government officials found a discrepancy between his passport and birth certificate when he tried to leave his native Dominican Republic over the weekend. He will turn 28 on May 24.
Fellow Dominican Martin Vargas, scheduled to pitch in the bullpen at Class AAA Buffalo, was found to be a year older as well. He's 25 instead of 24.
"They said I was a year older," said Colon yesterday. "It's no big deal. I don't care."
Colon is listed at 230 pounds in last year's media guide. This year he's listed at 240.
When asked if Colon looked overweight, one Indians coach smiled and said, "He looks strong. He looks very strong."
Following the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, more attention has been paid to noncitizens entering the United States.
Colon and Vargas are among several players from the Dominican Republic who have had their ages change because of closer scrutiny when they tried to report to spring training.
"It's not just us," said General Manager Mark Shapiro. "It's happening all over baseball."
Julian Tavarez, signed by the Indians on March 16, 1990, still hasn't been allowed to leave the Dominican Republic to join the Chicago Cubs in Mesa, Ariz. Tavarez, according to reports, has a passport but no birth certificate.
Reportedly, he never had one.
"A lot of times it's not just players lying and saying they're younger than they really are," said Shapiro. "It's poor record-keeping."
Anaheim's Ramon Ortiz, thought to be one of the most promising young pitchers in the American League, was found to be 29 instead of 26 earlier this month. Atlanta's Rafael Furcal, the National League Rookie of the Year in 2000, was found to be 23 instead of 21.
Vargas denied to a reporter on Sunday that he was discovered to be a year older. Yesterday he informed the Indians he was.
"In my heart and mind, I know everything is going to be OK," said Vargas. "What, are they going to come and kill me because I'm one year older?"
Vargas pitched at Class AA Akron and Class AAA Buffalo last year. He combined for 13 saves, but has control problems.
"He's got a major-league sinker," said Buffalo manager Eric Wedge. "But he needs to learn how to pitch."
Vargas said many players are still in the Dominican Republic and can't report to spring training because of phony birth certificates.
"I feel bad for them," he said. "They've got families and they need jobs."
Left-hander Ricardo Rincon, who missed the first two days of workouts, reported to Chain of Lakes Park yesterday. Rincon said he was delayed for "three or four days" trying to get through customs in his native Mexico.
"They said the picture on my passport didn't match the picture on my visa," said Rincon.
Rincon, 31, said there were no questions about his age.
By March 8, the Indians will have 170 minor-league players in camp. They have 44 visas for foreign-born players. That does not include players on the 40-man roster or from Canada and Australia.
"We have all 44 visas filled," said John Farrell, Indians director of player development. "We don't anticipate any problems in players reporting."
Most of those 44 players will be coming from the Dominican Republic and Venezuela.
"In January, Ross Atkins [assistant director of player development] and I went over our list of players in our academies with the U.S. consulates in the Dominican and Venezuela," said Farrell. "All their papers seemed to match up."
Farrell said the process to get a player from the Dominican Republic or Venezuela to spring training usually takes 45 to 60 days.
Thirty-five of Tribe's top minor-leaguers will report for early spring training Friday. Pitchers and catchers report March 1 and position players March 6.
Paul Hoynes
Plain Dealer Reporter
Winter Haven, Fla.
- Bartolo Colon did more than gain a few pounds this winter. He gained a year as well.
Colon, the Indians' No. 1 starter, went from 26 to 27 after government officials found a discrepancy between his passport and birth certificate when he tried to leave his native Dominican Republic over the weekend. He will turn 28 on May 24.
Fellow Dominican Martin Vargas, scheduled to pitch in the bullpen at Class AAA Buffalo, was found to be a year older as well. He's 25 instead of 24.
"They said I was a year older," said Colon yesterday. "It's no big deal. I don't care."
Colon is listed at 230 pounds in last year's media guide. This year he's listed at 240.
When asked if Colon looked overweight, one Indians coach smiled and said, "He looks strong. He looks very strong."
Following the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, more attention has been paid to noncitizens entering the United States.
Colon and Vargas are among several players from the Dominican Republic who have had their ages change because of closer scrutiny when they tried to report to spring training.
"It's not just us," said General Manager Mark Shapiro. "It's happening all over baseball."
Julian Tavarez, signed by the Indians on March 16, 1990, still hasn't been allowed to leave the Dominican Republic to join the Chicago Cubs in Mesa, Ariz. Tavarez, according to reports, has a passport but no birth certificate.
Reportedly, he never had one.
"A lot of times it's not just players lying and saying they're younger than they really are," said Shapiro. "It's poor record-keeping."
Anaheim's Ramon Ortiz, thought to be one of the most promising young pitchers in the American League, was found to be 29 instead of 26 earlier this month. Atlanta's Rafael Furcal, the National League Rookie of the Year in 2000, was found to be 23 instead of 21.
Vargas denied to a reporter on Sunday that he was discovered to be a year older. Yesterday he informed the Indians he was.
"In my heart and mind, I know everything is going to be OK," said Vargas. "What, are they going to come and kill me because I'm one year older?"
Vargas pitched at Class AA Akron and Class AAA Buffalo last year. He combined for 13 saves, but has control problems.
"He's got a major-league sinker," said Buffalo manager Eric Wedge. "But he needs to learn how to pitch."
Vargas said many players are still in the Dominican Republic and can't report to spring training because of phony birth certificates.
"I feel bad for them," he said. "They've got families and they need jobs."
Left-hander Ricardo Rincon, who missed the first two days of workouts, reported to Chain of Lakes Park yesterday. Rincon said he was delayed for "three or four days" trying to get through customs in his native Mexico.
"They said the picture on my passport didn't match the picture on my visa," said Rincon.
Rincon, 31, said there were no questions about his age.
By March 8, the Indians will have 170 minor-league players in camp. They have 44 visas for foreign-born players. That does not include players on the 40-man roster or from Canada and Australia.
"We have all 44 visas filled," said John Farrell, Indians director of player development. "We don't anticipate any problems in players reporting."
Most of those 44 players will be coming from the Dominican Republic and Venezuela.
"In January, Ross Atkins [assistant director of player development] and I went over our list of players in our academies with the U.S. consulates in the Dominican and Venezuela," said Farrell. "All their papers seemed to match up."
Farrell said the process to get a player from the Dominican Republic or Venezuela to spring training usually takes 45 to 60 days.
Thirty-five of Tribe's top minor-leaguers will report for early spring training Friday. Pitchers and catchers report March 1 and position players March 6.