PEORIA, Ariz. — The scout recognized a rare talent. He also perceived danger on the road to acquisition. Approaching from the south, alone in a rental car, would pose certain risks. Wary of bandits and drug traffickers, Robert Rowley devised an alternate route.



From Panama, where he was based, Rowley flew to Houston. There, he boarded a second flight. After landing in Tucson, Ariz., he paid $300 for a ride. In a weathered Ford sedan, he and a friend of a cousin drove into Mexico. Fifty miles past the border, they reached a small town in the Sonoran Desert. They had arrived at Magdalena de Kino, the home of an infielder named Luis Urías.



After some cajoling, Urías’ parents granted their approval: Their son would sign with the Padres. The Chicago White Sox had offered to purchase his rights from the Mexico City Red Devils for $300,000, though Urías would have netted only 25 percent of the total. While San Diego’s bid was worth a...