Astacio Won’t Take Risk With Travel

Pitcher Pedro Astacio of the Colorado Rockies has temporarily avoided deportation but the team isn’t taking any chances with his legal problems.

Astacio, who was supposed to start Monday in a rained-out game against the St. Louis Cardinals at St. Louis, was instructed to return to Denver rather than join his team in Canada for Tuesday’s game against the Montreal Expos.

“It’s a risk taking him out of the country,” said Josh Byrnes, Rocky assistant general manager. “The immigration attorney recommended with where [Astacio’s] case is, travel outside the country is almost forbidden. Even though he is traveling with the team as a part of his work, it could be perceived as self-deportation.”

Astacio was accused of hitting his estranged wife last August. Under a deal with prosecutors, he pleaded guilty Jan. 29 to a charge of third-degree assault.

But the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service then said Astacio’s guilty plea was grounds to look into the possibility of deporting him to his native Dominican Republic.

Claiming he was unaware of the extreme consequences when he pleaded guilty, Astacio successfully changed his plea to not guilty March 7 in Arapahoe County District Court. His court case is scheduled for July 5.

If he is found guilty, he could still face deportation.

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Nolan Ryan is progressing ahead of schedule following his double heart bypass operation, and doctors said he should leave a Texas hospital within a week and make a full recovery.

“He is doing very well,” said Thomas McMinn, a cardiologist at the Heart Hospital of Austin. “He is walking the halls and getting stronger.”

Ryan walked into a hospital in suburban Round Rock on Sunday, complaining of chest pains. He was moved to the Austin hospital, where he was rushed into surgery after diagnosis showed a near-total blockage in a main artery to his heart.

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The Montreal Expos acquired right-handed reliever Brad Rigby from the Kansas City Royals for right-hander Miguel Batista.

Rigby, 26, had a 14.16 earned-run average in 9 1/3 innings with the Royals this season. Batista, 29, had a 14.04 ERA in 8 1/3 innings with the Expos.

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Right-handed reliever Mel Rojas, who has bounced around the majors over the last four years, signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox.

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University of Michigan quarterback and New York Yankee third base prospect Drew Henson made his 2000 baseball debut, going 0 for 3 in an extended spring training game at Dunedin, Fla.

Henson, who reported to the Yankees’ Florida player development center Saturday after completing final exams, is expected to join the Yankees’ double-A Norwich team during the first week in May.