Omar Beltre is having a rough go of things, lately. The Dominican pitching prospect in the Texas Rangers’ farm system is being repeatedly turned down for U.S. visas because of a scam he was part of back home. In it, he was offered $3,000 to marry a woman who he would then bring to the states, and afterwards they would part ways. How this differs from anything Britney Spears does on a yearly basis and is allowed to roam free is beyond us.

The problems for Beltre and Ogando started when they went to the U.S. embassy in January 2005 to pick up their work visas. According to the Rangers’ information, consulate officials soon discovered an inordinate number of young minor league ballplayers had been married in a short period of time to women who had previously been denied visas. It raised red flags.

When the players went back to pick up their work visas, consulate officials were waiting.

“They said, ‘Just tell us the truth,’ ” Ogando recalled. “They told me, ‘You may lose your career because of this, so right now you might as well come clean.’ ” Beltre and Oriental tell similar stories. Beltre, who was 23 at the time, said he also quickly admitted he had made a mistake.

Their visa applications and those of their “wives” were rejected. They never received the promised money. They haven’t seen or heard from Wilfredo since.

Jon Daniels, the Rangers’ GM, says he’s tried everything to get Beltre and another prospect in. Just for shits and giggles… did he try getting them married to an American woman? There are plenty who wouldn’t even need the whole three grand.

Role in fraud ruins dreams for Texas Rangers’ prospects [Dallas Morning News]
Image [Dallas Morning News]