MLB suspends Dominican prospect over fake-age plot

MLB suspended Dominican prospect Daury David Severino Damaso after investigators uncovered an age and identity fraud tied to a $2.8 million pre-deal with the Cleveland Guardians, who believed he was 13 or 14. The player’s real name is Daury Severino Damaso, and he is actually 16, born April 2, 2010; the Guardians expected the deal to formalize in 2029 when he would be eligible to sign. The deception included a fake birth certificate, falsified medical and school records, a fraudulent death certificate, and even a gravesite tombstone to support the false identity. Trainer Francisco Nieves, with the apparent involvement or approval of the player’s parents, allegedly orchestrated the identity switch, creating David Severino as the younger persona. As a result, Severino’s suspension delays his entry into the international amateur market, potentially reducing his value from millions to a much smaller figure, while the Guardians face no disciplinary action. The case has renewed scrutiny of MLB’s international signing system and verification processes.