Report: Wilder was skimming from prospects

ARLINGTON, Texas - According to a report on ESPN.com Friday, former White Sox senior personnel director Dave Wilder was stopped earlier in the season trying to re-enter the United States with roughly $40,000 in cash after visiting the Dominican Republic.

Wilder and two of the Sox' Latin America scouts were allegedly targeted by federal authorities and Major-League Baseball for skimming bonus money earmarked for Dominican prospects.

The White Sox fired Wilder and scouts Victor Mateo and Domingo Toribio in mid-May.

According to ESPN.com, Washington Nationals general manager Jim Bowden and special assistant Jose Rijo are being investigated for their possible involvement in signing players from the Dominican Republic.

Hooray for Hamilton: After missing nearly four years while battling drug and alcohol problems, Texas Rangers center fielder/designated hitter Josh Hamilton has been baseball's brightest story this season.

The 27-year-old Hamilton drove in 2 more runs in Friday night's win over the White Sox, upping his mind-boggling RBI total to 93.

Sox manager Ozzie Guillen played for Tampa Bay in 2000, one year after the Rays drafted Hamilton No. 1 overall.

"I don't know him that well,'' Guillen said. "We had him with Tampa Bay when he was a kid. And what a beautiful wife and family he has.''

Like most baseball observers, Guillen is pleasantly surprised by how far Hamilton has come.

"This kid can be a role model for a lot of people if he continues to do what he does,'' Guillen said. "Not because of the RBI and home runs and the show he puts on this year. When you've got problems, it's not easy to be released from those problems. There's always the temptation and people around you, different scenarios. I tip my cap to that man.''