Padres prospect self-deports to Mexico after pleading guilty to human smuggling charge

A top Padres prospect has self-deported to Mexico after pleading guilty to transporting undocumented immigrants within the United States. Humberto Cruz, a pitcher ranked as the Padres’ fifth-best prospect by MLB Pipeline, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge related to receiving money for the transport, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune, and acknowledged it was a “virtual certainty” he’d be deported. The Athletic confirmed that Cruz, 19, had decided to self-deport and was back in Mexico. The Padres’ understanding is that Cruz would lose his work visa for 10 years, but could reapply after five years of good behavior, the...