“Only five months ago, Jose Rijo was fired from his front office job with the Nationals. The Dominican baseball academy he ran had produced a $1.4 million prospect with a forged identity. Federal investigators sought to determine whether Rijo, or those connected to his operation, had skimmed money from prospects. The Nationals were so eager to break ties with Rijo that they ordered a complete overhaul of their Dominican program.”

“For Rijo, an unlikely career has followed scandal. Now, he's an aspiring politician. According to recent news accounts Rijo is now running for mayor in his hometown of San Cristobal. Almost every day, he campaigns door-to-door, greeting people in the barrios, gathering on the street corners, reveling in a town where he's still known only as a magnanimous former big leaguer. "Here, he's been somewhat humiliated," a source close to Rijo said, "but down there [in the Domincan] he's still like the Godfather, larger than life."

“Rijo's opponent for the mayoral seat is another former big leaguer, Raul Mondesi.”