The MLB completed an investigation in which it discovered that Dominican prospect César Altagracia had falsified his age to verbally agree with the San Diego Padres for international signings in 2027, where he was going to earn $4 million.
Major League Baseball concluded that the teenager falsified his documentation and is five years older than believed, which resulted in the withdrawal of the agreement, ESPN reported.
The agreement between Altagracia and the religious was going to be effective in January 2027, when he was going to be an international free agent at the age of 16. However, the MLB discovered that the young man is 19 years old and not 14, as officially stated.
I WAS NOT 14, I WAS 19!
A young Dominican baseball player by the name of César Altagracia already had a pre-agreement for more than 4 million dollars to sign in 2027 (when he would supposedly turn 16 and be eligible) with the San Diego Padres.
But according to… pic.twitter.com/iKt5RT6TnQ
— Beisbolpuro (@Beisbolpuro) November 3, 2024
ESPN added: “The teenager represented the Dominican Republic at the 2022 U-12 Baseball World Cup and this summer’s U-15 Pan American Championships under the false identity.”
This scandal forced the Dominican Baseball Federation to join in the investigation of the case, which will have Altagracia in suspense, due to the rules of Major League Baseball.
It should be remembered that players who are found guilty of falsifying their ages are suspended for one year, before being given the green light again to be eligible.
Verbal agreements with young players are common in the MLB system, however, these can be canceled if in the end the prospect does not develop as expected, or events like Altagracia’s happen.
