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The San Diego Padres withdrew a verbal agreement with a prospect from the Dominican Republic after discovering he had claimed to be five years older than his true age, Jorge Castillo and Alden Gonzalez reported for ESPN.
The prospect, who assumed the name Cesar Altagracia, was believed to be 14 years old. He agreed to sign with the Padres for $4 million once he was eligible for international free agency in 2027, according to Castillo and Gonzalez.
The MLB then learned that Altagracia is a 19-year-old, who has previously represented the Dominican Republic in youth tournaments under a "false identity," Castillo and Gonzalez reported.