One of the San Diego Padres’ top prospects self-deported to Mexico after pleading guilty to human smuggling charges, according to The Athletic.
Border Patrol agents caught Humberto Cruz, who came legally to the United States, in October transporting two Mexican illegal immigrants at the Arizona border. The Padres signed Cruz, the right-handed pitcher from Mexico, in February 2024 for a $750,000 bonus, the outlet reported.
Cruz, 19, later pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact to improper entry and expressed “sincere regret for a recent lapse in judgment that has caused disappointment to many people I deeply respect,” he said in a statement issued by the Padres.
“I understand that my actions have fallen short of the standards expected of me as a professional and as a representative of this organization,” he said. “I take responsibility for my conduct and recognize the impact it has had on my teammates, the club, and those who support us. To my teammates and coaches, I apologize for becoming a distraction and for not upholding the level of professionalism you deserve. To the fans, I am sorry for letting you down and for failing to meet the trust placed in me.”
Cruz went on to say he’s “committed to reflecting on this moment, learning from it, and taking the appropriate steps to move forward in a positive and responsible manner.”
“I will cooperate fully with the organization and any steps required of me. … Thank you to everyone who has reached out with support and honesty. I understand that trust must be earned, and I am prepared to do that through my actions going forward,” he added.
On the morning of Oct. 28, Border Patrol agents observed a 2020 BMW SUV with Mexican license plates traveling south near Lukeville, Arizona, with one man inside, according to The Athletic, citing a criminal complaint. The agents grew suspicious after seeing the same car an hour later traveling north with multiple people inside.
They pulled them over, finding Cruz in the driver’s seat with two Mexican illegal immigrants in tow, according to the report. One of the passengers was deported four days before through Nogales, Arizona.
Cruz waived his Miranda rights, telling the agents that he responded to a call on social media for drivers “to pick up people for easy money,” The Athletic reported. He was offered $1,000 for each person he picked up at different locations through pin drops sent to his phone by an unknown contact.
The human smuggling operator instructed Cruz to drive to Tucson and then to Phoenix, according to The Athletic. Cruz also apparently admitted that he knew the people he picked up “were illegal.”
Federal authorities charged Cruz with one felony count of transportation of illegal aliens for profit and one misdemeanor count of accessory after the fact to improper entry, the outlet reported. He entered into a plea agreement that resulted in the dismissal of the felony charge in exchange for a guilty plea on the misdemeanor and a 30-day sentence with credit for time served.
Cruz entered the plea four months before being placed on the minor-league restricted list, according to The Athletic. He was already expected to miss the 2026 season following his elbow surgery in September.
He is ranked as the Padres’ fifth top prospect, according to CBS Sports.
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