MLB Dominican pipeline traps children in exploitative contracts, ProPublica finds

September 17, 2026 at 12:34 AM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

A ProPublica investigation alleges MLB teams negotiate informal agreements with Dominican prospects years before they are legally eligible to sign at age 16. The report claims families receive advance payments with interest rates up to 30% every two weeks, and lenders can claim up to 35% of signing bonuses. The U.S. Department of Justice previously investigated the recruitment system in 2018, finding documents of multiple MLB teams involved in a “mafia”-like system.

Key Facts

In 2025, 144 Dominican-born players appeared in MLB, accounting for roughly 10% of all major leaguers.
MLB teams sign roughly 450 Dominican prospects each year, and fewer than two-thirds reach the lowest levels of the U.S. minor leagues.
One player profiled by ProPublica received about $2,500 at an interest rate of 30% every two weeks.
The U.S. Department of Justice investigated the recruitment system in 2018 and found documents of multiple MLB teams involved in a “mafia”-like system.
A whistleblower made similar claims to the FBI in 2020, according to USA Today.

The Dominican Pipeline

The Dominican Republic is baseball’s largest talent pipeline outside the U.S., with 144 Dominican-born players appearing in the major leagues in 2025. Baseball America calculated that Dominican-born players accounted for 10.5% of MLB plate appearances through September 2025. MLB’s international signing system generally prohibits teams from signing international amateurs until age 16, with eligibility tied to a September 1 birthday cutoff. ProPublica alleges that teams routinely negotiate informal agreements with Dominican prospects years before they are eligible to sign.

Exploitative Loan Practices

ProPublica claims families and young players receive advance payments in handshake agreements before signing bonuses arrive, often at interest rates that would be illegal under U.S. usury laws. One player profiled by the investigation received about $2,500 at a rate of 30% every two weeks. Lenders can allegedly claim up to 35% of signing bonuses from major league clubs, and contracts signed by young players can restrict their ability to leave baseball. A whistleblower made similar claims to the FBI in 2020, according to USA Today.

Systemic Failures

The U.S. Department of Justice previously investigated the recruitment system in 2018, finding documents of multiple MLB teams involved in a “mafia”-like system in the country. MLB teams sign roughly 450 Dominican prospects each year, and fewer than two-thirds make it to the lowest levels of the U.S. minor leagues. From the minor leagues, roughly 10% appear in an MLB game. Many young players see education fall by the wayside as they move between academies and training.