Angel Villalona
Encyclopedia
Angel Miguel Villalona is a first baseman
in the San Francisco Giants
organization.
He had been rated by many baseball websites as the Giants #1 prospect. He was a suspect in the killing of a 25-year-old man in the Dominican Republic.
In 2007, the Giants assigned him to Extended Spring Training with the idea of sending him to Rookie Ball or Short-Season Ball later in the minor league season. He was then assigned to the AZL Giants of the Rookie Arizona League
as a 3rd baseman, hitting .264 and with an OPS in excess of .800 through July 30, 2007.
Villalona played 2008 with the Augusta GreenJackets
and was named to the 2008 All-Star Futures Game. He played the year with the Class A Advanced San Jose Giants
.
On November 19, 2011, Villalona was added to the Giants' 40-man roster.
The San Francisco Chronicle
soon had an article profiling Villalona, his life, and this incident. It gave a detailed picture of life in the Dominican and for prospects like Villalona who make big money. It also offered details into the charges and what was known at that time about the murder.
In November 2009, Villalona was released on bond, but still faced murder charges. The victim's family asked a judge to drop the case, prompting Villalona's release, which appears related to a reported monetary settlement of approximately $139,000 that Villalona reached with the deceased's family. Villalona would have stayed in jail awaiting the former charges without the settlement. The prosecutor, however, still planned to prosecute Villalona.
Villalona appeared in court for a preliminary hearing on April 27, 2010 to determine if the case will go to trial. Villalona has been free on bond since the settlement, but his U.S. visa has been subsequently revoked.
Charges against Villalona were dropped.
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
in the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
organization.
He had been rated by many baseball websites as the Giants #1 prospect. He was a suspect in the killing of a 25-year-old man in the Dominican Republic.
Career
In August 2006, the Giants signed Villalona with a club-record $2.1 million signing bonus.In 2007, the Giants assigned him to Extended Spring Training with the idea of sending him to Rookie Ball or Short-Season Ball later in the minor league season. He was then assigned to the AZL Giants of the Rookie Arizona League
Arizona League
The Arizona League is a minor league baseball league that operates in and around Phoenix, Arizona. It is a rookie-level professional baseball league run by Major League Baseball since 1989. Games are played at the spring training complexes of the team's parent organizations from mid-June until the...
as a 3rd baseman, hitting .264 and with an OPS in excess of .800 through July 30, 2007.
Villalona played 2008 with the Augusta GreenJackets
Augusta GreenJackets
The Augusta GreenJackets are a minor league baseball team that plays in Augusta, Georgia, as a Class A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants. Lake Olmstead Stadium has been the home of the GreenJackets since the 1995 season, although Augusta has fielded a team in the South Atlantic League since 1988...
and was named to the 2008 All-Star Futures Game. He played the year with the Class A Advanced San Jose Giants
San Jose Giants
The San Jose Giants are a minor league baseball team in San Jose, California, USA. They are a Class A - Advanced team in the Northern Division of the California League, and have been a farm team of the San Francisco Giants since 1988. Home games are played at San Jose Municipal Stadium...
.
On November 19, 2011, Villalona was added to the Giants' 40-man roster.
Personal
On September 20, 2009, it was announced by the police in the Dominican Republic that Villalona was a suspect in the murder of Mario Felix de Jesus Velete. Villalona turned himself in and could face up to 20 years in prison if he is convicted.The San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco Chronicle
thumb|right|upright|The Chronicle Building following the [[1906 San Francisco earthquake|1906 earthquake]] and fireThe San Francisco Chronicle is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, but distributed throughout Northern and Central California,...
soon had an article profiling Villalona, his life, and this incident. It gave a detailed picture of life in the Dominican and for prospects like Villalona who make big money. It also offered details into the charges and what was known at that time about the murder.
In November 2009, Villalona was released on bond, but still faced murder charges. The victim's family asked a judge to drop the case, prompting Villalona's release, which appears related to a reported monetary settlement of approximately $139,000 that Villalona reached with the deceased's family. Villalona would have stayed in jail awaiting the former charges without the settlement. The prosecutor, however, still planned to prosecute Villalona.
Villalona appeared in court for a preliminary hearing on April 27, 2010 to determine if the case will go to trial. Villalona has been free on bond since the settlement, but his U.S. visa has been subsequently revoked.
Charges against Villalona were dropped.