Teenage MLB prospect linked to Padres lied about his age
Aug 8, 2017; Cincinnati, OH, USA; A view of an official San Diego Padres New Era on field hat against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
MLB recently discovered that a top teenage prospect linked to the San Diego Padres had lied about his age.
A Dominican Republic teenager who assumed the name Cesar Altagracia had an existing verbal agreement with the Padres. San Diego reportedly offered $4 million for a sought-after international prospect they believed was just 14 years old. The deal would have taken effect in January 2027 when Altagracia was supposed to turn 16, which is the age players become eligible for international free agency.
MLB has found out that Altagracia had falsified his documents to cover up the fact that he was actually 19 years old, according to ESPN’s Jorge Castillo and Alden Gonzalez. The Padres have since withdrawn the offer they made Altagracia.
Altagracia represented the Dominican Republic in various youth competitions over the last few years. He was a member of the Dominican Republic’s U-12 Baseball World Cup in 2022 and played for the country’s U-15 team in the Pan American Championships earlier this year.
The common punishment for such an offense is reportedly a one-year suspension before being able to apply as an international free agent once more.
