Get The App

Download the Josplay app for the best experience.

Download Now

Charts

Discover the latest hits and trending music.

Explore Charts

Podcasts

Stories, music and conversation from Africa and its diaspora.

Browse Podcasts

New Releases

Stay updated with the latest music releases.

See New Releases
← Paper Trail
The Predatory Industry Behind MLB’s Dominican Superstar Pipeline artwork

The Predatory Industry Behind MLB’s Dominican Superstar Pipeline

Paper Trail
44:28
Play episode

Show notes

Major League Baseball has built a pipeline in the Dominican Republic to scoop up young players with the potential of superstars like Red Sox hero David “Big Papi” Ortiz. But reporter Gus Garcia-Roberts uncovered how MLB has allowed a shadow industry to flourish — one that exploits young players and their families. In this episode, Gus brings us the story of Belfi Rivera, a supernaturally talented young Dominican player who experienced firsthand how the system is broken. Support our journalism by donating at propublica.org/donate.

More from this show

More
  1. Who’s the Shadow President?

    Reporter Andy Kroll got his hands on secret tapes of a low-profile bureaucrat named Russell Vought. Turns out, as director of the Office of Management and Budget, he’s been quietly…

    36:12
  2. Don Jr.’s Secret Wedding Guest

    While investigating the personal wealth of the president’s oldest son, investigative reporters Justin Elliott and Brett Murphy learned something almost too strange to be true: that…

    28:35
  3. How the Planet-Altering Disaster of “Forever Chemicals” Was Kept Secret

    We now know harmful “forever chemicals” are likely in the bodies of most people on Earth. Decades ago, 3M knew that these chemicals had seeped into the public’s blood, but they kep…

    44:24
  4. The True Story of Why Immigration Agents Raided a Chicago Apartment Building

    In the middle of a September night last year, hundreds of agents stormed a Chicago apartment building, some rappelling down from a Black Hawk helicopter. They arrested 37 immigrant…

    41:40
  5. How “Forgive and Forget” Buried a Church’s Dark Secret

    Host Jessica Lussenhop received an unusual email: A prosecutor had major concerns about a case in Minnesota. A man had pleaded guilty to felony child sexual abuse, but it seemed li…

    45:45
  6. What Happened When Trump Officials Destroyed USAID (From Reveal)

    This week, we’re presenting a conversation with ProPublica reporters that originally aired on Reveal’s podcast “More to the Story.” When the administration and DOGE cut off funding…

    33:41
Now Playing

No Track Playing

The Predatory Industry Behind MLB’s Dominican Superstar Pipeline — Paper Trail | Podcast | Josplay Music