Top Padres Prospect Self-Deported to Mexico After Plea Related to Human Smuggling Humberto Cruz, one of the San Diego Padres’ top pitching prospects, pleaded guilty in November to a federal misdemeanor related to a human smuggling operation in southern Arizona, according to court documents reviewed by The Athletic. The plea, entered four months before Cruz was placed on the minor-league restricted list, resolved the criminal case against him and, under the terms of the agreement, made his removal from the United States all but certain. Sources confirmed that Cruz, 19, self-deported to his native Mexico and that the defendant in the federal case—Humberto Federico Cruz-Guajardo—is the right-handed pitcher the Padres signed out of Monterrey, Mexico, in February 2024 for a $750,000 bonus. Cruz, who had already been expected to miss the 2026 season after undergoing elbow surgery in September, remains ranked among the organization’s top five prospects by multiple publications. Cruz’s attorneys in the federal case and his agents at the Ballengee Group declined comment. Cruz, who pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact to improper entry, issued a statement through the Padres, who otherwise declined comment: “To my teammates, the organization, our fans, and my family, I want to express my sincere regret for a recent lapse in judgment that has caused disappointment to many people I deeply respect. I understand that my actions have fallen short of the standards expected of me as a professional and as a representative of this organization. I take responsibility for my conduct and recognize the impact it has had on my teammates, the club, and those who support us.#san_diego_padres #monterrey_mexico #humberto_cruz #ballengee_group #us_distict_court_district_of_arizona
