Full Breakdown
MLB Suspends Dominican Prospect Over Elaborate Age-Fraud Scheme
8/31/2026, 11:17:45 AM
How the Fraud Unfolded
Major League Baseball suspended a Dominican prospect after an investigation revealed a multi-layered scheme to conceal the player’s true age. The athlete, signed by the Cleveland Guardians under the name “David Severino,” was actually Daury David Severino Damaso, born on April 2 2010. To appear nearly two years younger, his trainer Francisco Nieves fabricated a birth certificate showing a later birthdate, falsified medical and school records, and later filed a fraudulent death certificate stating that Daury had died of a respiratory illness on May 5 2012. A fake tombstone was placed in a La Romana gravesite to support the false narrative.
Official Responses
An MLB spokesperson declined to comment on the investigation. Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti also declined to comment. Nieves did not respond to multiple requests, and Severino’s father remained silent.
Implications for the Prospect
Because the suspension invalidates the original pre-deal, Severino will now be eligible for the international amateur market a year later than originally planned, shifting his signing class from 2027 to 2028. A scout who evaluated him noted that, had his true age been known, “He’s barely hanging on” against younger competition.
Background on Age Fraud in the Dominican Republic
Age and identity fraud are recurring issues in Dominican baseball, where young players and their families often seek six- and seven-figure contracts. Trainers and academies sometimes resort to document manipulation, steroid use, and other extreme measures to make prospects appear more projectable at younger ages.
Key Dates
Verbatim Quotes
- “You have to have [guts] to do something like this,” — John Pereyra — John Pereyra, academy trainer.
