They say that he who owes nothing, fears nothing. But there is a former MLB star who does owe and therefore does fear. This is Carlos Guillen, the former strong-armed slugger who played for the Tigers and Mariners.
A three-time All-Star, Guillen finds himself at the center of legal troubles after becoming a fugitive in the Dominican Republic. Born in Venezuela, the former player owns a baseball academy in that country, which was placed under strict government supervision after irregularities in substance use were revealed.
However, Guillen’s flight is due to another reason. According to reports, the former Seattle baseball player borrowed two million dollars to develop his own baseball academy, but did not pay off that debt. He is believed to have fled to avoid paying the debt.
Carlos Guillen and the consequence of taking care of baseball in the Dominican Republic
The incident with the former baseball player comes in a special context in the Dominican Republic, just when the local authorities have intensified control over the country’s baseball academies, due to several cases of performance-enhancing drug (PED) use involving minors
- It should be remembered that the Phillies withdrew a $1.3 million offer to a 13-year-old after he tested positive for this type of chemical. During subsequent investigations, financial irregularities related to Carlos Guillen came to light.
Investigations revealed that the former Detroit star had not complied with the terms of the agreements, which led to him being pursued by authorities and subsequently going on the run.
Who was Carlos Guillen in the MLB?
He hit .285 over his 14 MLB seasons, with 124 home runs and 660 RBIs. He was always remembered as one of the best clutch hitters of his era. For example, during the 2006 ALDS against the Yankees, Guillen batted .571 (8-for-14), with three doubles and a home run. He was instrumental in Detroit’s 3-1 series victory, which allowed them to advance to the ALCS.
Read the full article here
