Everyone deserves another chance, says Guelph Royals owner Shawn Fuller.
Tuesday the Royals announced that they have signed Angel Villalona, a 27-year-old native of the Dominican Republic who was once one of the top prospects in professional baseball.
His rise up the professional baseball ladder was derailed in 2009 when he was charged with murder in the shooting death of a man following a bar fight in the Dominican Republic. Villalona was eventually acquitted of the charge.
A 2013 story in USA Today detailed the incident including an alleged settlement with the victim's family.
Fuller said Villalona will be in the Royal City in a week or two, once documentation and travel plans are finalized. He was one of four players the team inked at the league's signing deadline.
"He really wants to come over. He texts us every day," said Fuller.
"Everyone deserves another chance and the people we've talked to say good things about him. He carries himself very well and speaks good English."
The Giants gave Villalona a $2.1 million signing bonus as a 16-year-old International free agent in 2006.
After hitting 17 home runs in class A ball, Baseball America had him ranked as the 33rd best prospect in baseball prior to the 2008 season.
His legal issues kept him out of North America for two years before he returned and made numerous stops in the minor leagues over the next five years.
He last played pro baseball in 2016.
The Royals saw Villalona when they were on a scouting trip to the Dominican Republic prior to this season.
They eventually decided on five other Dominican players and brought them to Guelph, but recently sent shortstop Narcisco Padilla home due to his poor play.
The six-foot-three, 260-pound Villalona plays first base and third base.
An 11-6 win over the Hamilton Cardinals at Hastings Stadium Tuesday night leaves the Royals at 7-11 on the season, leaving them in sixth place in the eight-team league.
