Thursday, it was revealed that Fausto Carmona had been arrested in the Dominican Republic for using a false identity. It turns out that Carmona's real name is Roberto Hernandez Heredia. But that isn't the whole of it. There's more, and it's worse. From Maximo Baez Aybar:
Fausto Carmona - Roberto Hernandez Heredia - 31, Not 28
La edad real de Roberto Hernandez Heredia(a) Fausto Carmona,es 31 anos,no 28.
Which means "The real age of Roberto Hernandez Heredia - Fausto Carmona - is 31 years, not 28." The Indians thought Carmona celebrated his 28th birthday on December 7. In truth, he's got another three years.
Obviously, that damages his stock as a pitcher. 28 is still young enough to make adjustments. By 31, pitchers usually aren’t getting better. The Indians hold a $9 million club option for 2013 that they’re now more likely to decline than they used to be.
If this is anything like all of the other identity fraud stories, Carmona lied about his age to make himself more appealing to major league scouts and organizations. He was signed by the Indians as an international free agent in 2000. The Indians thought he was newly 17. Now it turns out he was 20. 20-year-olds don’t get the same bonuses or the same amount of attention as 17-year-olds.
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