Federal prosecutors have charged Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, both pitchers for the Cleveland Guardians, with accepting bribes from sports bettors to throw certain pitches in exchange for payouts. The indictment, unsealed Sunday in Brooklyn federal court, states the players took several thousand dollars to help two unnamed gamblers from their native Dominican Republic win more than $460,000 in in-game proposition bets.
According to prosecutors, the pitchers deliberately altered the speed or placement of pitches, at times throwing balls in the dirt instead of strikes, to ensure those bets succeeded. The bets focused on pitch-specific outcomes, such as velocity or result. MLB began investigating the players in July 2025 after detecting “unusually high in-game betting activity” during their appearances in April, May, and June.
- Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz are accused of taking bribes to manipulate specific pitches, helping gamblers win more than $460,000.
- Both face multiple conspiracy charges carrying potential sentences of up to 20 years in prison each.
- MLB and its sportsbook partners capped pitch-level wagers at $200 and banned them from parlays to prevent future integrity risks.
Inside the Alleged Pitch-Rigging Scheme
Investigators say Clase began providing betting information in 2023, later agreeing to take payment in 2025 for intentionally manipulating certain pitches. The indictment provides several specific examples of rigged pitches.
In April 2025, Clase allegedly invited a bettor to a game against the Boston Red Sox and spoke with him by phone before taking the mound. Four minutes later, the bettor and his associates won $11,000 on a wager that Clase would throw a pitch below 97.95 mph (157.63 kph).
In another incident in May 2025, Clase allegedly agreed to throw a ball during a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, the batter swung, resulting in a strike and costing the bettors $4,000. Afterward, Clase reportedly texted one of the bettors two images: one of a man hanging himself with toilet paper and another of a sad puppy face.
The indictment lists several manipulated pitches by Clase:
- A 98.5 mph cutter low and inside to Starling Marte of the New York Mets on May 19, 2023.
- An 89.4 mph slider that bounced before reaching Ryan Jeffers of the Minnesota Twins on June 3, 2023.
- An 89.4 mph slider to Bobby Witt Jr. of the Kansas City Royals on April 12, 2025, that bounced before the plate.
- A 99.1 mph cutter in the dirt to Max Kepler of the Philadelphia Phillies on May 11, 2025.
- A bounced 89.1 mph slider to Jake Bauers of the Milwaukee Brewers on May 13, 2025.
- A bounced 87.5 mph slider to Santiago Espinal of the Cincinnati Reds on May 17, 2025.
Prosecutors allege Luis Ortiz joined the scheme in June 2025, taking part in two games against the Seattle Mariners and the St. Louis Cardinals. On June 15, Ortiz allegedly threw a first-pitch 86.7 mph (139.5 kph) slider that bounced before reaching Randy Arozarena of Seattle. On June 27, he allegedly bounced another 86.7 mph slider to Pedro Pagés of St. Louis that hit the backstop.
The indictment claims Ortiz and Clase accepted cash bribes for these actions. Clase, a three-time All-Star and two-time American League Reliever of the Year, earned $4.5 million in 2025 under a five-year, $20 million contract. Ortiz’s salary for the same season was $782,600.
Federal Arrests, Charges, and Defense Statements
Luis Ortiz was arrested by the FBI on Sunday, November 9, 2025, at Boston Logan International Airport and appeared in federal court in Boston on Monday, November 10, 2025. He is expected to appear later in the Eastern District of New York. Emmanuel Clase remained out of custody as of Sunday, November 9, 2025, according to officials.
Both players are charged with wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, and conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery. Each of the first three counts carries a potential maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, while the last carries up to five years.
U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. said, “Ortiz and Clase betrayed America’s pastime. Integrity, honesty, and fair play are part of the DNA of professional sports. 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.”
Both players deny the charges. Ortiz’s lawyer, Chris Georgalis, stated, “Luis has never, and would never, improperly influence a game — not for anyone and not for anything.” He said Ortiz’s defense team had shown prosecutors that money transfers between him and people in the Dominican Republic were for lawful activities. Georgalis added, “There is no credible evidence that Luis knowingly did anything other than try to win games, with every pitch and in every inning. Luis looks forward to fighting these charges in court.”
Clase’s attorney, Michael J. Ferrara, issued a statement saying, “Emmanuel has devoted his life to baseball and doing everything in his power to help his team win. Emmanuel is innocent of all charges and looks forward to clearing his name in court.”
The Cleveland Guardians said they were “aware of the recent law enforcement action” and would continue cooperating with both law enforcement and Major League Baseball. MLB said it contacted federal authorities as soon as the investigation began and has “fully cooperated throughout the process.”
MLB and Sportsbook Partners Tighten Betting Rules
Following the indictments, Major League Baseball and its official sportsbook partners implemented new betting limits. Wagers on pitch-specific prop bets, such as those tied to the speed or result of individual pitches, will now be capped at $200 and excluded from parlay bets.
MLB said the measures were designed to mitigate integrity risks. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine supported the decision, stating, “By limiting the ability to place large wagers on micro-prop bets, Major League Baseball is taking affirmative steps to protect the integrity of the game and reduce the incentives to participate in improper betting schemes. I urge other sports leagues to follow Major League Baseball’s example with similar action.”
MLB confirmed that its internal investigation is still ongoing.
Wider Crackdown on Sports Betting in U.S. Leagues
In October 2025, authorities charged more than 30 people — including Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, and former Cleveland Cavaliers player and assistant coach Damon Jones — in a separate gambling sweep involving NBA games.
Earlier, in June 2024, MLB issued a lifetime ban to San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano after determining he had placed 387 baseball bets totaling more than $150,000 using a legal sportsbook.
These cases have emerged amid a rapid expansion of legalized sports betting following the 2018 U.S. Supreme Court decision that struck down the federal ban and allowed states to legalize wagering. Since then, betting revenue in the United States has grown dramatically. The American Gaming Association reported $13.71 billion in national sports betting revenue in 2024.
Professional sports leagues, including MLB, the NBA, the NFL, and the NHL, have since signed deals with official betting partners, linking team promotions and broadcasts to sportsbook activity. However, the growing connection between sports and gambling has also raised new integrity concerns across leagues.
MLB’s Historic Rule on Gambling
Major League Baseball’s gambling rule has remained unchanged for decades and is displayed in every clubhouse in multiple languages. It reads, “Any player, umpire, or Club or League official or employee, who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has a duty to perform, shall be declared permanently ineligible.”
The rule has served as baseball’s firm stance against betting corruption since the early 20th century. The indictments of Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz now place that policy, and MLB’s system of monitoring betting integrity, under renewed scrutiny.
