Immigrants Fill Dugouts of Minor League Teams

(NEWSER) - Stirrups, baseball’s heel- and toe-less signature hosiery, have their pitfalls for one minor leaguer. “They’re uncomfortable,” he says. “They want to fall down. They ride up in back. But it’s the look. You got to have some white showing.” Most major leaguers disagree, wearing pants all the way down to their shoes. But stirrups are hanging on in the minors, the Wall Street Journal reports. More»

Buy $500K worth of homes, and you can be a legal US resident

(NEWSER) - Are you a wealthy would-be immigrant with a penchant for real estate? Well, then have Chuck Schumer and Mike Lee got a deal for you. The Democrat and Republican senators have introduced a bipartisan bill that would grant a visa to foreigners who buy at least $500,000 worth of residential real estate, the Wall Street Journal reports. The investment could be broken up over multiple houses or condos, but each must cost at least $250,000. More»

Minor league manager Luis Salazar will return to work this season

(NEWSER) - An Atlanta Braves coach has lost his left eye after a foul ball hit him in the face. Luis Salazar, a minor league manager, was watching a spring training game when a line drive off the bat of the Braves’ Brian McCann hit him in the dugout. He was knocked out and the game was paused while he was airlifted to a hospital. Doctors treated him for facial fractures, the AP reports. More»

US officials cite fear 9-year-old Micah Strachan would stick around

(NEWSER) - A 9-year-old boy from Britain with plans to visit Disney World was denied entry to the US this week; immigration officials cited a concern he wouldn’t leave the country. “Because you either did not demonstrate strong ties outside the United States or were not able to demonstrate that your intended activities in the US would be consistent with the visa status, you are ineligible,” said US officials in a rejection letter. The Telegraph notes that Micah Strachan's visa application included a letter from his school, as proof of his attendance. More»

Eri Yoshida, Japan's first pro woman player, comes to US

(NEWSER) - Eri Yoshida, Japan’s first female pro baseball player, has signed to pitch for a minor league club in California. The 18-year-old knuckleballer will play for the independent Chico Outlaws, though the team stresses that she’ll have to earn her roster spot in spring training, the Enterprise-Record reports. “It’s important that we don’t cross the line to being a circus,” the team’s president said. “We don’t want to bring her on if she can’t compete.” More»