MLB suspends Dominican prospect after age-fraud plot involving fake grave
Summary
Major League Baseball suspended a Dominican baseball prospect after discovering an age-fraud scheme designed to make him appear almost two years younger. The plot involved fake documents and a staged gravesite to support a false identity, leading to the cancellation of his deal with the Cleveland Guardians.Key Facts
- The player, originally named Daury David Severino Damaso, was falsely portrayed as a younger player named David Severino.
- The scheme included fake school, medical, birth, and death records, and even a fake tombstone in the Dominican Republic.
- Severino agreed to a $2.8 million pre-deal with the Cleveland Guardians, believed to be 13 or 14 years old, but he is actually 16.
- Francisco Nieves, Severino’s former trainer, reportedly created the false identity and arranged the fraudulent documents.
- John Pereyra, a trainer with 30 years of experience, had paid for Severino’s rights but was unaware of the fraud during the player’s training.
- Pereyra investigated after learning of the younger brother’s alleged death and visited the fake gravesite, initially easing suspicions.
- MLB began investigating Severino’s identity concerns in May, leading to the cancellation of his agreement with the Guardians.
- The league, the team, and Nieves have not made public comments about the investigation or suspension.
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