Report: Nationals prospect ‘sorry’ for lie

Washington Nationals prospect Esmailyn Gonzalez says he’s sorry about lying about his name and age, The Washington Post reported Wednesday.

His real name is Carlos Daniel Alvarez Lugo, but when the Nationals signed him to a contract in 2006 that included a $1.4 million bonus, he listed his age at 23, four years older than he was.

He said his cousin, Wilton Martinez, thought up the scheme, and Martinez is embarrassed and depressed.

Sports Illustrated reported that Nationals general manager Jim Bowden, who denied any wrongdoing, has been investigated by the FBI in its ongoing probe of a bonus skimming scandal connected to signing of prospects from the Dominican Republic.

I feel bad, really bad, Alvarez told the newspaper through an interpreter. I want to ask the (major league) president to forgive me for what I did.

Since he signed, the newspaper reported that Alvarez acknowledges being a 20-year-old shortstop, one who actually turned 21 that November.

Former major league pitcher Jose Rijo, a consultant for Washington in the Dominican Republic has taken a leave of absence.