SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Following the United States’ military action in Venezuela on Jan. 3, aimed at capturing President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, Major League Baseball teams swiftly prioritized the safety of their Venezuelan players, initiating plans to bring them to the U.S. as quickly as possible. The proactive response alleviated concerns about player safety and potential disruptions to spring training, which commenced this week in Florida and Arizona.
Swift Action Eases Concerns for Venezuelan Players
Teams moved quickly to ensure the well-being and timely arrival of players from Venezuela amid political upheaval.
- The U.S. military strike prompted immediate action from MLB teams to safeguard their Venezuelan players.
- Most teams successfully brought players to the U.S. before spring training began.
- Visa processing, typically handled through Colombia or the Dominican Republic due to the closed U.S. embassy in Caracas, presented some challenges.
- Increased scrutiny of immigration procedures has led to longer visa processing times for players from Venezuela and the Dominican Republic.
Most players who were already in the U.S. or were able to travel quickly experienced few difficulties, according to front office executives and agents. “As soon as the Maduro thing happened, teams were like, ‘Let’s get guys here sooner rather than later,’” one agent representing several Venezuelan-born players explained. “So, a lot of guys have just been here for a while.”
Venezuelan players without U.S. citizenship or residency require P-1A visas to play professionally in the U.S. With the U.S. embassy in Caracas closed since 2019, players must obtain these visas through the U.S. consulates in Colombia or the Dominican Republic before entering the country.
What are the biggest hurdles Venezuelan baseball players face when seeking visas? Obtaining a P-1A visa requires travel to Colombia or the Dominican Republic, and recent delays in processing have added to the challenges, particularly with increased immigration scrutiny.
Some players encountered significant delays in Colombia, with one agent reporting a client waited over three weeks for visa approval before being able to join spring training in Arizona. The broader trend suggests longer processing times for visas and green cards for players from both Venezuela and the Dominican Republic, which collectively comprised 61.5% of players on Opening Day rosters in 2025.
Teams responded by initiating the visa process earlier than usual. “I’ve never dealt with a team in December trying to process visas, especially for a guy who’s never been in trouble,” an agent noted. “Just based on that, things are different.”
As of this week, full-squad workouts are scheduled to begin Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday for the 30 major league teams. While some players are still reporting to camp, late arrivals among pitchers and catchers have been minimal, consistent with typical spring training patterns. Atlanta Braves reliever Robert Suarez and Chicago Cubs catcher Moises Ballesteros, both from Venezuela, were among the few reported late arrivals.
“We were proactive in having our [Venezuelan] players come out early,” said Angels general manager Perry Minasian, reflecting a widespread approach across the league.
Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio, who was playing winter ball in Venezuela when the U.S. launched its military operation, initially expressed a desire to remain in his home country. However, Brewers personnel encouraged him to travel to the U.S. for his safety. “They’re under a lot of pressure,” Brewers president of baseball operations Matt Arnold said. “They want to play for their country, and locally there’s pressure. I understand that. But we have to make sure they’re safe.”
In June of last year, a travel ban enacted by President Donald Trump targeted 12 countries—Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen—ostensibly to protect national security. The order also included partial restrictions for nationals of seven additional countries, including Venezuela.
However, the order included an exemption for athletes and athletic personnel traveling for major sporting events, such as the World Cup or the Olympics, as determined by the Secretary of State. A league official confirmed that the U.S. Department of State has been cooperating to facilitate the entry of MLB players from Venezuela for spring training.
The eventual reopening of the U.S. embassy in Caracas and the planned resumption of direct flights between Venezuela and the U.S. after a seven-year hiatus offer hope for a more streamlined visa process for Venezuelan players in the future. For now, many are simply relieved that a potential crisis was averted.
