Cleveland Guardians Pitchers Face Indictment for Alleged Pitch-Rigging Scheme
Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz have been indicted on charges of accepting bribes from sports bettors to manipulate pitch outcomes. The indictment, unsealed Sunday in federal court in Brooklyn, alleges the players received several thousand dollars in exchange for influencing pitches, such as throwing balls in the dirt, to benefit specific in-game prop bets.
Details of the Allegations
According to the indictment, the alleged scheme involved two unnamed gamblers from the Dominican Republic who reportedly won at least $460,000. The bets focused on the speed and outcome of certain pitches.
Both Clase, 27, a former closer, and Ortiz, 26, a starter, have been placed on non-disciplinary paid leave by Major League Baseball (MLB) since July. This action followed an MLB investigation into unusual betting activity during games in which they pitched, occurring in April, May, and June.
Ortiz was arrested by the FBI on Sunday at Boston Logan International Airport and is scheduled to appear in federal court in Boston on Monday. Clase was not in custody at the time of the announcement.
Charges and Potential Penalties
The charges against Clase and Ortiz include:
- Wire fraud conspiracy
- Honest services wire fraud conspiracy
- Money laundering conspiracy
- Conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery
The most severe charges carry a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
Player and League Responses
Chris Georgalis, Ortiz's lawyer, stated that his client maintains innocence and denied any improper influence on games. Georgalis indicated that prior documentation had been provided to prosecutors regarding lawful activities associated with payments and money transfers between Ortiz and individuals in the Dominican Republic. A lawyer for Clase did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Major League Baseball confirmed it contacted federal law enforcement when its investigation began and has fully cooperated with authorities. The league stated its investigation is ongoing. The Cleveland Guardians also released a statement affirming their awareness of the law enforcement action and their continued cooperation with both law enforcement and MLB.
Specific Incidents Cited
The indictment details several alleged instances of pitch manipulation:
-
Emmanuel Clase:
- In April, Clase allegedly spoke with a bettor by phone before a game against the Boston Red Sox. Four minutes later, the bettor and associates reportedly won $11,000 on a wager that Clase would throw a specific pitch slower than 97.95 mph.
- In May, during a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Clase reportedly agreed to throw a ball at a specific point. The batter swung, resulting in a strike, which allegedly cost the bettors $4,000. Post-game, Clase reportedly sent text messages to a bettor with images conveying disappointment.
- Prosecutors state Clase, who has a $4.5 million salary in 2025, began providing pitch information in 2023 and requested payoffs this year.
- Alleged rigged first pitches when entering an inning include:
- May 19, 2023: 98.5 mph cutter low and inside to New York Mets' Starling Marte.
- June 3, 2023: 89.4 mph slider to Minnesota's Ryan Jeffers, short of home plate.
- April 12: 89.4 mph slider to Kansas City's Bobby Witt Jr., which bounced.
- May 11: 99.1 mph cutter in the dirt to Philadelphia's Max Kepler.
- May 13: Bounced 89.1 mph slider to Milwaukee's Jake Bauers.
- May 17: Bounced 87.5 mph slider to Cincinnati's Santiago Espinal.
-
Luis Ortiz:
- Prosecutors state Ortiz, with a $782,600 salary this year, joined the scheme in June.
- Accused of rigging pitches in games against the Seattle Mariners and St. Louis Cardinals.
- Alleged rigged first pitches:
- June 15: Bounced 86.7 mph slider to Seattle's Randy Arozarena to start the second inning.
- June 27: Bounced 86.7 mph slider to St. Louis' Pedro Pagés, which went to the backstop opening the third inning.
Context of Broader Sports Betting Investigations
These charges occur amidst a wider federal examination of gambling within professional sports. Recently, over 30 individuals, including figures associated with the NBA, were arrested in a separate gambling investigation.
A U.S. Supreme Court ruling in May 2018, which eliminated a federal ban on sports betting in most states, has facilitated the expansion of online sportsbooks and has been followed by an increase in gambling-related incidents involving athletes and officials.
In June 2024, Major League Baseball suspended five players, with San Diego infielder Tucupita Marcano receiving a lifetime ban for allegedly placing 387 baseball bets totaling over $150,000 with a legal sportsbook.