Sources – MLB finds prospect linked to Padres' fake age

A Major League Baseball investigation recently found that a top teenage prospect in the Dominican Republic who had verbally agreed to sign with the San Diego Padres had falsified his papers and was five years older than previously thought, which led to this that the agreement was withdrawn, sources told ESPN.

The teenager, who took the name Cesar Altagracia, verbally agreed to sign with the Padres for about $4 million, a sizable bonus that showed he was considered one of the top international prospects in his class. The deal would have become official in January 2027, once Altagracia would be eligible to sign as a 16-year-old international free agent.

But MLB determined he was 19, not 14 as stated in his documents. According to sources, the teenager represented the Dominican Republic under a false identity at the 2022 U-12 Baseball World Cup and the U-15 Pan American Championships this summer.

An MLB spokesman declined to comment. The Padres also declined to comment. The Dominican Baseball Federation is also investigating the matter, sources said.

Players found to have falsified their age are typically given a one-year ban before being allowed to reapply.

The existence of a spending cap in the international market, implemented as part of the collective bargaining agreement starting in 2012, and the race to find the best talent in a baseball hotbed like the Dominican Republic have led teams to sign player contracts on a regular basis for years, before they become compulsory at age 16. Contracts are concluded with players who are already 12 or 13 years old. At this point, they train under the supervision of a team, out of sight of opposing evaluators, until signing day.

However, it is not uncommon for teams to have agreed-upon contracts weeks before players are signed, either because a prospect did not develop as expected or because turnover in the team's front office changed the philosophy, sources said.

The signing of amateur players has fueled an entire economy rife with corruption. In the past year, sources say, there has been a rise in high-profile players presenting themselves with fake birth certificates to appear up to five years younger. Many of these players had their bonuses revoked after investigations uncovered the information.