Guardians pitchers accused of betting scheme
Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz stand accused of conspiring with gamblers to influence in-game prop bets.
By Kwame Barrett ·
Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz entered a federal court in Brooklyn on Monday to begin a jury trial.
Prosecutors allege that the two players accepted bribes to share specific information with gamblers. The scheme targeted in-game prop bets on pitch speed and outcome.
According to the indictment, the pair helped two bettors from the Dominican Republic win at least $460,000. Clase, the team's former closer, allegedly began providing pitch details in 2023. He recruited starting pitcher Ortiz into the arrangement in 2025.
Both defendants have pleaded not guilty to conspiracy charges. They remain on non-disciplinary leave from the Guardians without pay while the legal process unfolds.
Clase is 28 years old and has been named a three-time All-Star. He won the American League Reliever of the Year award twice. His five-year, $20 million contract had reached its fourth season when the charges were revealed in November 2025. Ortiz, 27, earned $782,600 during the 2025 season.
The defendants face four counts: wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, and conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery. Defense lawyers plan to argue that the pitchers were not colluding with gamblers. They intend to show that the players were simply varying pitch placement to deceive batters.
Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto ruled on Friday that prosecutors cannot present evidence of Clase's $500,000 U.S. tax debt to the jury. The judge cited a missed deadline for disclosing that financial record to the defense. A prosecutor argued the evidence was necessary to counter claims that Clase had no financial incentive to accept bribes because he held millions of dollars in Dominican accounts.
Major League Baseball and the Guardians state they have fully cooperated with authorities. The league notified federal law enforcement after investigating unusual betting activity. Several professional players and executives are expected to testify during the monthlong proceedings.
Source: Las Vegas Sun
