The Tucson Baseball Team’s official debut in its new home has been delayed indefinitely because of visa-related issues.

The team, which relocated from Navojoa, Sonora, and is a member of the Mexican Pacific Winter League, was scheduled to play its first home series Oct. 16-19 at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium.

The club announced Friday that it has canceled that series against Hermosillo. A news release from Pima County, which runs the Kino Sports Complex, said the next scheduled home series, Oct. 24-26 vs. Obregon, might have to be canceled, as well.

TBT is scheduled to open the season Wednesday, Oct. 15, at Hermosillo. It will play its scheduled home games on the road until the matter is resolved, according to the MPWL. 

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According to the release, TBT owner Victor Cuevas told Pima County officials Friday that the U.S. Consulate General in Hermosillo informed the team on Oct. 3 that it believed the B1/B2 visas players had been issued by the Department of Homeland Security were not valid because the team had relocated its operations to Tucson.

Tucson Baseball Team jerseys are hung for decoration during a press conference at Kino Veteran’s Memorial Stadium on June 18, 2025.

Mamta Popat, Arizona Daily Star

Cuevas said he has been in discussions with U.S. State Department officials to obtain the correct visas but added that he was concerned the matter would not be resolved before the start of the season. Cuevas remains “hopeful and optimistic” that the new visas will be acquired quickly and that the team can make its debut at Kino later in the regular season, per the Pima County release.

Messages left with Cuevas on Friday evening were not immediately returned.

The Cuevas family released a statement about the matter Friday afternoon:

“It is with deep regret that we announce that the official start of Tucson Baseball Team activities at Kino Stadium Oct. 16-19 must be postponed until further notice due to ongoing immigration processes currently under review by the appropriate authorities. This decision has been extremely difficult for our entire organization. We share the same excitement and passion as all of you in seeing our team proudly represent Tucson on the field.

“However, the current circumstances require us to prioritize full compliance with all necessary legal and regulatory procedures before resuming our sporting operations in the United States. We sincerely appreciate the understanding, support and patience of our community, fans, sponsors and institutional partners.

Victor Cuevas, team president, second from left, answers a question during a Tucson Baseball Team press conference at Kino Veteran’s Memorial Stadium on June 18, 2025.

Mamta Popat, Arizona Daily Star

“Additionally, we inform all fans who purchased tickets for Opening Day, as well as season-ticket holders, that they will receive refunds. We will have more information about that soon.

“The Tucson Baseball Team reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the city of Tucson and Pima County and to all supporters who have stood by this project since its inception. We are confident that this process will make our organization stronger and allow us to return to the field with greater determination, passion and community spirit.”

Pima County Board of Supervisors chair Rex Scott said the county “fully supports” the Tucson Baseball Team and the Cuevas family.

“It’s unfortunate this issue came up so close to the start of the season,” Scott said in the release. “But I’m optimistic this issue can be resolved and the team will be able to play its first home games at Kino Stadium this fall.”

Visa classifications

The Tucson Baseball Team has played multiple exhibition games in the U.S. — including last weekend’s Mexican Baseball Fiesta in Tucson — and has been training at the Kino Sports Complex.

Obregon’s Victor Marquez (6) pops out to Tucson Baseball Team third baseman Aldo Nunez (23) during the second inning at the Mexican Baseball Fiesta on Oct. 2, 2025, at Kino Stadium.

Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star

The home opener slated for Thursday was the first of 34 home games on TBT’s schedule.

Mo Goldman, an attorney with Goldman Immigration, PC in Tucson, speculated that the Tucson Baseball Team’s ownership misinterpreted which type of visas it was supposed to acquire for the players now that the club is located in the U.S.

“If they’re coming to play a sport in the United States … the category typically is the P-1 visa,” said Goldman, who had no direct knowledge of TBT’s situation when interviewed by the Star on Friday.

“The B1/B2 visa, those visas are typically for shorter visits. … They’re going to need to expedite P visas for all these athletes. That might take a little bit of time.”

It’s unclear how long the process will take to obtain new visas. Officials are expected to meet next week, when, at a minimum, they hope to have more information.

It’s also unclear if the current government shutdown will further delay the process.

Tucson Baseball Team shortstop Edgar Lugo has to extend to snare a high hopper up the middle by Obregon’s Kevin Villavicencio during the Mexican Baseball Fiesta on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025, at Kino Stadium.

Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star

At the start of the 2025 season, about 28% of MLB players were born outside the United States, according to the league. Those players typically obtain a P-1A via.

According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website, the P1-A classification applies “if you are coming temporarily to the United States solely for the purpose of performing at a specific athletic competition.”

Examples include “an athlete or coach as part of a team or franchise that is located in the United States and (is) a member of a foreign league or association.”

A B-1 visa — officially called a B-1 Temporary Business Visitor visa — is intended for those who “will be participating in business activities of a commercial or professional nature in the United States,” per the USCIS website.

Eligibility criteria for a B-1 visa include:

– The purpose of your trip is to enter the United States for business of a legitimate nature

– You plan to remain for a specific, limited period of time

– You have a residence outside the United States that you have no intention of abandoning, as well as other binding ties that will ensure your return abroad at the end of the visit

The initial period of stay for a B-1 visa recipient is one to six months, with an extension possible for a full year. P-1A visas are valid for up to five years, with the possibility of a five-year extension.

“I’ve been working in cross-border relationships and business development for many decades, and sometimes there can be hiccups with visas in both countries,” Felipe Garcia, president and CEO of Visit Tucson, said in the Pima County release. “I expect the team will be able to obtain visas acceptable to the U.S. government.”

Visa issues have affected teams in baseball and other sports this year. A Little League team from Venezuela was denied entry to the U.S. and couldn’t compete in the Senior League World Series. A Senegalese women’s basketball team canceled plans to train in the U.S. after multiple visa applications weren’t approved.

Obregon’s third baseman Roberto Valenzuela (30) takes a swipe at Tucson Baseball Team baserunner Alejandro Quezada (31) to get an out on a ball hit to the hole during the fifth inning of the Mexican Baseball Fiesta on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025, at Kino Stadium.

Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star

The Mexican Winter League and the Tucson Baseball Team says it has “prioritized compliance with all necessary legal procedures,” per a release from the league. “However, we are adjusting to requests made to us by the same authorities, in addition to what was previously established.”

Although the Trump administration has ramped up travel restrictions for certain countries, the Tucson Baseball Team’s issues are not believed to be politically motivated. Most of TBT’s players are from Mexico, which is not among the countries subject to the restrictions.

‘Two gut punches’

The Southern Arizona Sports, Tourism & Film Authority (SASTFA) played an integral role in the relocation of the TBT franchise, as well as securing other professional baseball events such as the 2025 World Baseball Classic qualifier.

“While we share in the community’s excitement and anticipation for Tucson’s professional baseball return, we also understand that great things take time,” Edgar Soto, SASTFA board president, said in the release.

“This brief delay allows us to finalize operational details and ensures the long-term success of the Tucson Baseball Team. When we take the field, we’ll do it the right way with excellence, sustainability and pride for our region.”

The Tucson Baseball Team’s visa snafu comes on the heels of the weather-induced cancellation of the Arizona Fall League tripleheader scheduled for Saturday at Kino. Blake Eager, executive director of SASTFA, described that pair of cancellations as “two gut punches, back to back.”

Eager and others involved in the return of pro baseball to Tucson are now espousing patience as the situation gets sorted out.

“To our best ability, be as patient as we can and let the process play out,” Eager told the Star on Friday. “Let the right people continue to work on the issues at hand.”

Victor Cuevas, team president, holds up a drawing given to him by Otto Bungard, a young fan, on a suggestion for a team name during a Tucson Baseball Team press conference at Kino Veteran’s Memorial Stadium on June 18, 2025.

Mamta Popat, Arizona Daily Star

Asked if it was overly ambitious to relocate a Mexican Winter League franchise in a relatively short period of time — the official announcement was made in late May — Eager said:

“I don’t think so. It’s the first of its kind. Trying to understand all the intricate details and all the moving parts, there’s always going to be a learning curve.

“Everybody involved saw a great opportunity. We’re still very confident in the venture and the success it will bring.”

Eager noted that officials have been trying to bring professional baseball back to Tucson for more than a decade. Aside from one-off events, Tucson hasn’t had a full-fledged pro team it could call its own since 2008. MLB spring training left town in 2010.

“The fact that we even have the opportunity to get gut-punched is a positive,” Eager said. “The amount of people behind closed doors working together to try to get this thing solved is incredible. That’s a positive that people aren’t going to see from this.”

Contact sports reporter/columnist Michael Lev at mlev@tucson.com. On X (Twitter): @michaeljlev. On Bluesky: @michaeljlev.bsky.social

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