MLB Suspends Dominican Prospect Over Elaborate Identity Deception Scheme

Major League Baseball has suspended a Dominican Republic prospect following an investigation into an alleged identity fraud scheme, according to reporting from ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez. The case involves falsified documents, forged medical records, and a counterfeit death certificate—complete with a fake tombstone—designed to conceal the player’s true age and identity from professional scouts.

The Cleveland Guardians had agreed to a $2.9 million pre-contract with a player identified as David Severino, believed to be between 13 and 14 years old at the time. The agreement was contingent upon the switch-hitting infielder reaching age 17, when he would officially become eligible to sign. The player’s actual name is Daury David Severino Damaso, and he is approximately two years older than the identity under which he was presented.

According to the report, Damaso’s former trainer, Francisco Nieves, allegedly created the false identity with parental approval, presenting it as that of Damaso’s younger brother. Forged birth certificates and medical records accompanied the scheme. Two years later, a fabricated death certificate was produced, claiming that the original “Daury David Severino Damaso” had died of respiratory illness in 2012, further obscuring the deception.

The falsified identity allowed Damaso to compete against significantly younger players—ages 12 and 13—giving him a substantial athletic advantage over his age-group peers. As a result of the suspension, Damaso must wait an additional year before becoming eligible to sign as an international amateur player. The Cleveland Guardians declined further comment, while MLB has not yet responded to requests for additional information.