[REVISION HISTORY]

MLB recruitment integrity in the Dominican Republic

Updated 3 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-17 16:06 UTC → 2026-09-22 13:24 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Investigations into Major League Baseball (MLB) recruitment practices in the Dominican Republic have revealed systemic issues regarding age and financial integrity. In one instance, MLB suspended Dominican prospect Daury David Severino Damaso following an investigation into an elaborate identity fraud scheme. To make the player appear nearly two years younger, a trainer and the player’s parents allegedly falsified medical and school records and even filed a fraudulent death certificate. The deception included placing a fake tombstone at a gravesite to provide physical evidence of a fictitious death. Further reporting by ProPublica has alleged broader systemic issues, claiming MLB teams bypass age restrictions by using informal, verbal agreements to secure talent as young as 11 years old. These arrangements reportedly involve predatory lending practices, where a significant portion of signing bonuses is diverted to coaches and lenders. Specific reports highlight the role of lenders like Santo Caraballo, who provides high-interest advances to families. These loans can carry usurious interest rates, sometimes as high as 150% annually. For example, after signing an $1.8 million bonus with the Arizona Diamondbacks, prospect Belfi Rivera was left with only $196,000 after repaying debts. Experts estimate that of the $1.042 billion paid in bonuses to Dominican prospects between 2012 and early 2026, as much as $500 million may have been diverted through these methods. Recent ~~developments~~ investigations have detailed how trainers manage high operating costs by utilizing lenders who provide capital in exchange for 2% to 5% of future bonuses. While some trainers view these lenders as a “necessary evil” or a “lifesaver” for small academies, the practice provides lenders with significant financial advantages. Developments have linked lender Santo Caraballo to former MLB star David Ortiz. Ortiz, through legal counsel, has denied authorizing Caraballo to use his name to establish trust with families. While the Dominican Republic provides approximately 10% of MLB talent, less than 10% of signed prospects ever reach the Major Leagues.

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