Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Oneil Cruz, then a prospect, allegedly hired a fixer to arrange payments totaling $66,000 to the families of three people who died in a 2020 crash on a Dominican Republic highway. The incident is facing renewed scrutiny following a report by the independent outlet ProPublica.
According to the report, Cruz, 21 at the time, was driving at high speed when he rear-ended a motorcycle, killing its three riders: Yohan Saba Mercado, 20; Deby Beato Charles, 20; and Daniela Perez Garcia, 19. Police stated that Cruz had consumed alcohol prior to the early-morning crash on September 21, 2020. The collision occurred on a poorly lit highway, well after the country's COVID-19-related curfew.
Prosecutors initiated an investigation and sought to detain Cruz. ProPublica reported that Santo Caraballo, a local businessman with connections to former MLB player David Ortiz, led an effort to persuade the victims' families to accept cash in exchange for signing documents that would withdraw all legal claims against Cruz. Caraballo, whose businesses included a legal services firm, assembled a legal team to contact the families.
Mercado's mother told ProPublica that on the day of the funeral, Cruz's mother contacted her by phone to offer condolences and negotiate a settlement. Garcia's mother stated she was misled into signing a settlement, partly with the assistance of her son, who was working with Caraballo. She expressed that while wealthy individuals, particularly baseball players, might use money to resolve such matters, she valued her honor.
The Pittsburgh Pirates, who acquired Cruz in a 2017 trade, informed ProPublica that the now 27-year-old outfielder "addressed this matter more than six years ago based on the information available and the outcome of the legal proceedings." Cruz's lawyer noted that a Dominican court issued an order of dismissal based on its findings, which was a legally binding resolution.
Cruz made his MLB debut with the Pirates in 2021 and became a regular player in the second half of the 2022 season. In 2025, he led the National League with 38 stolen bases. He is currently playing on a one-year, $3.3 million contract, with two years of team control remaining before he is eligible for free agency.