SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic --- Former Augusta GreenJacket Angel Villalona was charged with murdering a 25-year-old man in a bar over the weekend in his Caribbean homeland.

Villalona, who was signed by the San Francisco Giants in 2006 and played for the GreenJackets last year, wore a bulletproof vest at his hearing Monday at a court in the southern coastal city of La Romana. He pleaded innocent to the murder charge.

The 19-year-old Villalona could face up to 20 years in prison if found guilty in the Saturday night shooting death of Mario Felix de Jesus Velete.

Judge Aranibal Manzano Zapata ordered Villalona, who turned himself in 12 hours after the fatal shooting at a La Romana bar, jailed for two months while authorities prepare their case in the Dominican Republic.

"This is a serious case of voluntary homicide," public prosecutor Jose Polanco said of the allegations.

Police haven't said what the motive for the deadly shooting was.

Villalona, who appeared to be tired at Monday's hearing, refused to talk to reporters and tried to hide his face from photographers.

He played in 74 games with the Giants' advanced Class A team in San Jose, Calif., this season, batting .267 with nine home runs and 42 RBI. He was considered the Giants' most prized prospect when he signed.

Representatives of the Giants did not immediately return calls for comment. The club issued a statement Sunday saying it was "disappointed" to learn Villalona was considered a suspect by Dominican police.

Frank Micheli, president of the Azucareros del Este -- Villalona's winter baseball team -- did not immediately return calls.