Ogando was born in San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic. He told the Oakland Athletics that his name was Argenis Benitez, and signed with the team for $15,000 as an outfielder in 2002. After playing his rookie season in the Dominican Summer League, Ogando batted .342 with 13 doubles, seven home runs (second in the Arizona League) and 36 runs batted in for the AZL Athletics in 2003. The organization learned Ogando\'s real name that season. He began the 2004 campaign with the Vancouver Canadians, but after starting the season 0 for 13 and batting .150 in six games, he was demoted back to Arizona. Despite not joining the Arizona League until July 1, he finished second in the league with six home runs and had twenty extra base hits. As a hitter, Ogando was noted for his raw power and bat speed, drawing comparisons to Alex Ríos from his Arizona League Athletics manager Ruben Escalera.\n', '

The Texas Rangers acquired Ogando in the rule 5 draft in December 2005 and converted him into a pitcher. He earned an invitation to spring training in 2005; however, when he went to the U.S. embassy to pick up his work visa that January, consulate officials were waiting. They had noticed that an inordinate number of young minor league ballplayers had been married in a short period of time to women who had previously been denied visas, and it raised a red flag. Ogando immediately admitted guilt to his involvement in a human trafficking ring, and was assured that he would likely only receive a one-year exclusion, and that he would be able to reapply the following year. As it turned out, he was banned from entering the United States for five years, limiting him to winter ball, the Dominican Summer League and international tournaments. Further efforts included sending Ogando to workouts in Japan, to see if any Nippon Professional Baseball teams were interested in his services. Japanese interest in Ogando was not high, and he spent three seasons out of the DSL Rangers\' bullpen, going 11–3 with a 1.11 earned run average and 114 strikeouts and holding batters to a .209 batting average. The Texas Rangers contacted the United States government, then led by former team owner George W. Bush, and Ogando was eventually pardoned, after speaking out on the dangers of human trafficking.\n', '

On February 12, 2010, Ogando and Omar Beltré, who was also involved in the human trafficking ring out of the Dominican Republic, were granted visas, and allowed to attend spring training, arriving in the U.S. on February 16. After spring training, he was assigned to the double A Frisco RoughRiders and soon earned a promotion to triple A after dominating the Texas League with a 1.15 ERA in 15.2 innings.\n', '

Return to Alexi Ogando Autograph Profile