The Trump Administration’s approach to immigration probably has nothing to do with visa issues involving pitchers Johnny Cueto and Santiago Casilla and other athletes trying to report to training camps.
The state department hasn’t exceeded the standard wait time this year when issuing special visas for athletes, according to a source familiar with the process. That means the problem lies with the Giants’ Cueto and A’s Casilla — or their teams.
However, the spring training absences of the Bay Area pitchers highlight a continuing trend as American professional sports embrace globalization. The United States’ complicated immigration system has caused hundreds of foreign athletes over the years from arriving on time although there is a process designed especially for them.