Ortiz graduated from Estudia Espaillat High School in the Dominican Republic and in he was signed by the Seattle Mariners who listed him as `` David Arias '' ( possibly not understanding Spanish naming customs ) . Ortiz graduated from Estudia Espallat High School in the Dominican Republic and in 1992 he was signed by the Seattle Mariners who listed him as `` David Arias '' ( possibly not understanding Spanish naming customs ) .