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Oswaldo Pirela, the San Diego Padres’ minor league catching coordinator, was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the club confirmed Tuesday, Aug. 18.
Pirela was detained Sunday at the airport in El Paso, Texas, where the club’s Class AAA affiliate is located. He is a 34-year-old Venezuela native who played three seasons in the Texas Rangers organization from 2009-2011 and has been with the Padres organization in a coaching capacity since 2024.
“We recently became aware of the detainment of minor league catching coordinator Oswaldo Pirela in El Paso, Texas,” the club said in a statement to USA TODAY Sports. “We are working to gather additional information and will not have any further comment at this time.”
Pirela is based out of the club’s Peoria, Arizona, spring training complex and spent the 2024 season as bench coach for the club’s Class A Lake Elsinore (California) affiliate before becoming their catching coordinator in 2025.
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement to USA TODAY Sports that Pirela entered the country in September 2014 and was granted permission to remain until Feb. 10, 2018.
“In violation of our nation’s laws, he overstayed his welcome. When approached by law enforcement officers, he was not in possession of legal documentation granting him status in the country,” the department said in a statement. “He will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings and will receive due process.
“To be clear, work authorization or a pending application do NOT confer legal status in the United States.”
Pirela’s wife, Kemberly Avila, told The Athletic that Pirela and his family have had pending asylum applications and carry temporary ID cards.
This story has been updated with new information.