Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz have been indicted in connection with a sports betting and money laundering scheme.
The indictment, unsealed in the Eastern District of New York on Sunday, alleges that Clase and Ruiz provided bettors with inside information on their pitches. The co-conspirators then placed wagers on those pitches, with the pitchers sometimes receiving bribes and kickbacks in return.
The two men are charged with wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery and money laundering conspiracy. If convicted on all counts, they would face up to 65 years in prison.
The scheme is alleged to have started in May 2023, when Clase began providing information on the speed, type and result of his pitches to bettors in advance.
For instance, before a May 19, 2023, game against the New York Mets, Clase informed bettors about the type of pitch he intended to throw. The bettors then successfully wagered that a pitch Clase threw would be faster than 94.95 miles per hour, winning roughly $27,000 in the process.
Ortiz, meanwhile, joined the enterprise in June 2025, the indictment alleges. The pitcher, through Clase, allegedly provided advance information to bettors that certain pitches he threw would be balls instead of strikes in multiple games that month.
In total, the co-conspirators won at least $400,000 on pitches Clase threw and $60,000 on pitches that Ortiz threw, the indictment alleges.
The two pitchers also allegedly received $5,000 each in exchange for information Ortiz provided regarding one of his pitches in a June 15 game against the Seattle Mariners. The two later received $7,000 each in exchange for Ortiz providing information on a pitch during a June 27 game against the St. Louis Cardinals.
MLB placed Ortiz on paid leave July 3 amid an internal investigation into the matter. Clase was placed on paid leave July 28, with MLB announcing Aug. 31 that the two would remain on leave until further notice.
In a press release, Joseph Nocella Jr., U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York, said that Clase and Ortiz “betrayed America’s pastime” with their alleged actions.
“Integrity, honesty and fair play are part of the DNA of professional sports,” Nocella added. “When corruption infiltrates the sport, it brings disgrace not only to the participants but damages the public trust in an institution that is vital and dear to all of us.”
The release notes that Ortiz was arrested in Boston earlier Sunday and will appear in federal court in the city on Monday. Clase, on the other hand, is not in U.S. custody. Both men were born in the Dominican Republic.
Clase, 27, debuted with the Texas Rangers in 2019 and was traded to Cleveland in December of that year. A two-time American League (AL) Reliever of the Year, Clase has led the AL in saves three times.
Ortiz, 26, debuted for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2022 and was traded to Cleveland last December.
In a statement, MLB said it “contacted federal law enforcement at the outset of its investigation and has fully cooperated throughout the process.” The league added that it is “aware” of the indictment and Ortiz’s arrest, and said its investigation is “ongoing.”
The Guardians also said they were “aware” of the indictment and arrest and “will continue to fully cooperate with both law enforcement and Major League Baseball as their investigations continue.”
Last month, federal law enforcement arrested Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and dozens of others in separate investigations into illegal sports betting and rigged poker games, respectively.
Source: The Hill - News
