Yankees void signing of amateur

Jul 18, 2009 - 2:35 AM By RONALD BLUM AP Baseball Writer

NEW YORK(AP) -- The Yankees voided the signing of an amateur from the Dominican Republic after he flunked a DNA test that showed he misrepresented his name and identity.

The Yankees had reached an agreement on July 2 with Damian Arredondo, a switch-hitter who claimed to be 16. A baseball official, speaking on condition of anonymity because no announcement had been made, said the Yankees were informed by Major League Baseball's department of investigations that the name and age were false.

The voiding of the deal was first reported Thursday by cnnsi.com.

The baseball official said the Yankees didn't pay any money to the player. The official said this was among several instances this month in which amateur players were found to have false identities or ages.