The Shocking Case of Age-Fraud in Major League Baseball

Major League Baseball (MLB) has taken a strong stance against a case of extreme age fraud involving a young Dominican prospect. According to sources, the player’s handler orchestrated an elaborate scheme that included faking a death and creating a tombstone to make the athlete appear younger than he actually is. This scandal has raised serious concerns about the integrity of international baseball recruitment.

The investigation revealed that the player’s handler went to great lengths to alter his identity. This included fabricating a birth certificate, falsifying medical and school records, and even filing a fraudulent death certificate. A fake tombstone was placed in a gravesite in La Romana, a city in the Dominican Republic, to support the fabricated story.

The plot began when the Cleveland Guardians agreed to a $2.8 million pre-deal with a switch-hitting infielder named David Severino. The team believed he was 13 or 14 years old, expecting the deal to finalize in 2029 when he would be 17 and eligible to sign. However, it turned out that both the name and age were entirely false.

The Real Identity of the Player

According to sources, the player’s real name is Daury David Severino Damaso. He was born on April 2, 2010, making him 16 years old. In 2023, Francisco Nieves, who was the player’s trainer at the time, allegedly created the identity of David Severino Damaso, claiming he was Daury’s younger brother. This new identity included a fake birth registration showing a birthdate of December 20, 2011. Falsified medical and school records were also produced under this name.

From that point on, Daury Severino Damaso became known as David Severino Damaso. Two years after the fake birth registration, a fraudulent death certificate was filed for Daury, stating he had died of a respiratory illness on May 5, 2012. A fake tombstone was planted in a gravesite in La Romana, further supporting the illusion.

John Pereyra, a trainer who worked with Severino, described the situation as “movie stuff.” He noted that while he had heard of false birth documents before, the level of detail in this case was unprecedented. Despite working with Severino for two years, Pereyra claims he was unaware of the false identity.

The Impact on the Player

Severino’s suspension means he will have to wait an extra year to enter the international amateur market and become eligible to sign with a team. His real age would have made him eligible for the class of 2027, but the suspension changes that timeline.

Despite being 16 years old, Severino impressed evaluators by competing against 12- and 13-year-olds. However, he should have been playing in the Dominican Summer League with 16- and 17-year-olds. A scout noted that if he had been in the correct age group, “He’s barely hanging on.”

Age and identity fraud are common in international baseball, particularly in the Dominican Republic. However, the lengths to which Severino’s case went shocked many in the industry.

The Role of Trainers and Scouts

Pereyra, who runs an academy called Futuro Big Leaguers in Santiago, has trained over 70 players who have signed with major league teams. He was initially suspicious when he asked for Severino’s documentation and learned his parents registered his birth late. This is not uncommon in the poorest regions of the country.

When he heard about Severino’s brother’s death, Pereyra decided to investigate further. He visited the gravesite and saw the tombstone, which convinced him of the story. However, things changed when he received a WhatsApp message from Nieves informing him that something had gone wrong with the contract and MLB was investigating.

The Broader Issue of Age Fraud

In the race to identify top-tier talent, MLB teams have long been involved in illegal, nonbinding agreements with players in the Dominican Republic and Venezuela. These deals often occur well before players are eligible to sign, sometimes as early as 10 or 11 years old. The incentive to make kids seem more projectable at young ages has led to widespread steroid use and, in some cases, falsified documents.

Pereyra believes that the desperation of families in poverty-stricken areas drives such extreme actions. He said, “When you have a kid, and you tell him, ‘Look, your name is not Daury. If someone asks your name, you say, ‘David Severino Damaso’ — [he will] do it.”

The Guardians are not facing MLB discipline, but Pereyra is concerned about the financial impact of the deal falling apart. He worries that his academy might not stay afloat without the commission he was counting on. His hope is that Severino eventually signs a six-figure deal with another team. A scout believes if he does sign, it’ll probably be for $10,000.