MLB Suspends Dominican Prospect Over Elaborate Age-Fraud Scheme

Major League Baseball suspended a low-level Cleveland Guardians prospect after an investigation uncovered a fraud that made the player appear almost two years younger. The player signed as David Severino is actually Daury David Severino Damaso, born April 2 2010. The scheme used falsified birth and death certificates, fabricated medical and school records, and a staged gravesite in La Romana, Dominican Republic.

ESPN

Age and identity fraud have long plagued the international baseball market, especially in the Dominican Republic, where families chase lucrative MLB contracts. Teams often negotiate pre-deals before players become eligible, creating pressure to appear younger. The Guardians’ $2.8 million pre-deal, announced in December 2025, was based on Severino being 13-14 and eligible to sign in 2029 at age 17.

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• Daury David Severino Damaso – prospect, actually 16.

ESPN

• John Pereyra – trainer, founder of the Futuro Big Leaguers academy.

ESPN

• Francisco Nieves – former trainer who created the false identity and secured Severino’s rights for $20,000.

The Guardian

• Chris Antonetti – president of baseball operations, Cleveland Guardians.

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• MLB officials – investigators; declined comment.

The Guardian

• April 2 2010 – Daury’s actual birthdate.

ESPN

• December 2025 – Guardians sign $2.8 million pre-deal with “David Severino.”

The Guardian

• 2023 – Nieves creates false identity “David Severino Damaso,” presenting him as Daury’s younger brother.

ESPN

• May 5 2012 – Date on a fraudulent death certificate claiming Daury died two years after birth.

ESPN

• May 2026 – MLB investigation disclosed; Guardians terminate the agreement and MLB issues the suspension.

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• $2.8 million – value of the pre-deal.

The Guardian

• $20,000 – amount Pereyra paid Nieves for Severino’s rights.

ESPN

• 70+ – players Pereyra claims have signed MLB contracts through his academy.

ESPN

• MLB representative declined to comment.

ESPN

• Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti also declined comment.

CBS Sports

• Francisco Nieves did not respond to requests.

The Guardian

• Severino’s father offered no comment.

The Guardian

The suspension forces Severino to wait an additional year before becoming eligible for the international amateur market, shifting his signing class from 2027 to 2028. The case highlights the vulnerability of impoverished communities to fraud schemes and may prompt MLB to tighten verification processes for international prospects.

ESPN

• Sources differ on whether the Guardians face league discipline; ESPN and CBS Sports say the team is not subject to MLB sanctions, but no official statement confirms this.

CBS Sports

• The exact role of Severino’s parents is described as “with approval” by some sources, yet no direct testimony is available.

ESPN

• “You have to have [guts] to do something like this,” — John Pereyra

ESPN

MLB has not announced further disciplinary actions or policy changes related to international prospect verification. The Guardians have terminated the agreement, and the suspended prospect must await eligibility for future signing opportunities.

CBS Sports