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MLB·BREAKING·August 29, 2026 05:32 PM ET

MLB reportedly suspends prospect in elaborate identity plot

A $2.8 million Guardians pre-deal was canceled.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Aug 291 min read
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What happened: ESPN's Alden Gonzalez reported that the player used the name David Severino while his legal name is Daury David Severino Damaso. The alleged plot involved falsified birth, medical and school records, a fraudulent death certificate and a staged gravesite.

Why it matters: The suspension delays Severino's entry into the international amateur market by one year. Cleveland will avoid discipline after MLB treated the organization as a victim of the alleged scheme.

By the numbers: Severino was born April 2, 2010, making him 16; the false identity listed Dec. 20, 2011, a gap of about 20 months.

What to watch: Any appeal or further action involving trainer Francisco Nieves will determine whether the case expands.

Sources

  • Fox News 
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