Romero still trying to obtain visa in Dominican Republic

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The curious case of Deibinson Romero, the Twins' 26-year-old who has been trying since last month in obtain the visa he needed to travel from his native Dominican Republic to his first Major League Spring Training camp, continues.

Frustrated general manager Terry Ryan said Friday he hopes to have an answer "in the next day or two."

Last year, a hurricane destroyed the courthouse in Romero's hometown of Perdenales, leaving immigration officials with no reliable way to verify the ballplayer's identity or date of birth.

"We just need to prove he's who he says he is," Ryan explained. "Unfortunately, his birth certificate is not to be found. There was a flood in his town that took away the records in the courthouse. Major League Baseball has cleared him, but the consulate in the Dominican Republic has not. It's complicated."

Romero signed with the Twins as an undrafted free agent in 2004.

"We've had him for eight years," Ryan noted.

Romero had been invited to Twins' camp on a non-roster basis this spring. Romero batted .267, with a career-high 19 home runs and 78 RBIs last season at Double-A New Britain.

"We'll take him when we can get him -- if we can get him," Ryan said.