Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis L. Ortiz face federal charges for allegedly manipulating pitches to influence gambling wagers. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York announced the indictments on Sunday, highlighting a new chapter in MLB's long history with gambling scandals.
The indictments against Clase and Ortiz stem from alleged gambling misconduct involving the manipulation of specific pitches to affect wagers. According to the Department of Justice, the pitchers 'agreed in advance with their co-conspirators to throw specific types of pitches and speeds of pitches,' receiving bribes and kickback payments in exchange for rigging outcomes.
If convicted, the pair could face up to 65 years in prison on charges including wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery, and money laundering conspiracy. Ortiz is already in custody, while Clase's status was not detailed in reports.
This case marks a rare allegation of in-game manipulation by active MLB players for monetary gain, differing from 2024 suspensions for betting violations. MLB has evolved its stance on gambling since partnering with MGM Resorts in 2018 and FanDuel in 2023, though the league strictly prohibits betting on baseball.
The scandal echoes MLB's past, from the 1919 Black Sox fixing to Pete Rose's 1989 ban, but underscores ongoing efforts to maintain integrity amid legalized sports betting.