Right-hander Jose Rafael DePaula, who was originally known as Rafael DePaula Figueroa before coming forward with a new name and age, had his visa approved and is finally expected to travel to the U.S. next week for his Yankees physical.
After serving a one-year suspension for falsifying his identity, DePaula was signed by the Yankees in Nov. 2010, receiving a $500,000 bonus. In the 16 months since, he’s worked out at the Yankees’ academy in the Dominican Republic while attempting to secure a visa.
According to his current documentation, DePaula turns 21 on March 24. Baseball America says he was throwing in the mid-90s when he signed with the Yankees, but it also has sources saying he’s reaching the high-90s with his heater now. If true, he could quickly emerge as one of the team’s best prospects this year.
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- randygnyc - Mar 22, 2012 at 6:57 PM
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21 year old CHEESE. Welcome,——-, what ever your name is.
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- doctorfootball - Mar 22, 2012 at 8:37 PM
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Why don’t these kids just come in with no names and let the teams that sign them make one up? Most of these kids don’t use their real names anyway.
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- churchoftheperpetuallyoutraged - Mar 22, 2012 at 9:13 PM
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Homer Simpson: Hi, I’m Max Power
Trent Steele: Hey, great name!
Homer Simpson: Thanks. I got it off a hair dryer.
