A ProPublica investigation uncovers how underage Dominican baseball prospects face illegal signing and predatory loans from moneylenders, revealing seven key findings on systemic exploitation in the sport.
Dominican baseball academies attract thousands of young talents each year, but many are underage and lured into contracts that violate MLB rules. Investigators found teams often sign players as young as 14, bypassing age restrictions meant to protect minors from early burnout and lost education.
Predatory moneylenders target these aspiring athletes and their families with high-interest loans for training and equipment. The debt traps force players into unfavorable deals, with interest rates sometimes exceeding 100 percent, leaving families in financial ruin even if the player fails to reach professional levels.
The report highlights weak enforcement by baseball authorities and calls for stricter oversight. It details cases where players were abandoned after injuries, underscoring the need for better protections to prevent exploitation in this talent pipeline.
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