Report: Prospect Lied About Age, Name [Updated] – Naiotnals Journal, The Post
Lots of details about the Esmailyn “Smiley” Gonzalez/Carlos Alvarez Daniel Lugo situation.
According to a report on Sports Illustrated’s Web site, the shortstop once known as Esmailyn “Smiley” Gonzalez has falsified his name and age. His true identity: Carlos Alvarez Daniel Lugo. His true age: 23, or four years older than the Nationals believed. According to current data, the Nationals list Gonzalez’s birthday as Sept. 21, 1989.
This morning, Jose Rijo, who owns the academy that the Nationals use as their Dominican base, said, “I don’t know what to believe.”
Rijo declined to address why the team, when signing Gonzalez, dealt with buscon (or street agent) named Basilio Vizcaino, rather than with Gonzalez’s then-agent, Rob Plummer.
Rijo declined to address why the team, when signing Gonzalez, dealt with buscon (or street agent) named Basilio Vizcaino, rather than with Gonzalez’s then-agent, Rob Plummer.
I understand that dealing with Dominican prospects is like college football/basketball recruting, only 100 times as shady, but I cannot help but think Rijo has got to go, as does his superior Jim Bowden.
Hopefully Stan Kasten’s media conference call this afternoon is to announce that there are two fewer members of the front office.
