Phillies Sign Pitcher with Fake Name and Fake Age

Meet RoFausto CarNandez!

RoFausto CarNandez, 30-33, pitching in 2008/Wikipedia

RoFausto CarNandez, 30-33, pitching in 2008/Wikipedia

In 2006, the Cleveland Indians signed a Dominican pitcher called Fausto Carmona born in 1983. In 2012, he was suspended by Major League Baseball for something called “age and identity fraud.” Turns out his actual name was Roberto Hernandez–he used the other one to get a Visa–and he was actually born in 1980. Which is presumably why Ruben Amaro, who has a fetish for old players who lie about stuff, signed him for what is believed to be a one-year deal.

30-33-year-old CarNandez, who had a 4.89 ERA last year with Tampa Bay, would seem to round out the Phils’ five-man rotation.