Two Cleveland Guardians pitchers are facing serious federal charges after being accused of accepting bribes to manipulate pitches for gambling purposes, in a scandal that has rocked Major League Baseball.
The Charges and Allegations
Luis Ortiz, aged 26, was arrested on Sunday by FBI agents at Boston Logan International Airport and is scheduled to appear in federal court in Boston on Monday. His teammate, 27-year-old Emmanuel Clase, currently remains free but faces identical charges.
According to court documents unsealed on Sunday, the two highly-paid hurlers allegedly accepted thousands of dollars in payments to help gamblers from their native Dominican Republic win substantial sums. The scheme involved placing prop bets on specific pitch characteristics, including speed and whether pitches would land in the dirt.
Prosecutors claim the illicit activities enabled bettors to win at least $460,000 through wagers placed on pitches thrown by the players during games occurring in April, May, and June of this year.
MLB Investigation and Team Response
Both Clase and Ortiz have been on paid leave since July, when MLB officials initiated an investigation into unusually high betting activity during games where the pitchers were playing. The league confirmed it had contacted federal law enforcement upon discovering suspicious patterns and has fully cooperated with the ongoing criminal investigation.
In a strongly worded statement, U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. declared that the players had "betrayed America's pastime," emphasising that "integrity, honesty and fair play are part of the DNA of professional sports."
The Cleveland Guardians organisation issued its own statement, acknowledging awareness of the law enforcement action and pledging continued cooperation with both authorities and Major League Baseball.
Specific Incidents and Financial Details
The indictment provides detailed examples of the alleged corruption. In one instance from an April game against the Boston Red Sox, Clase reportedly invited a bettor to attend the match and spoke with him by telephone just before taking the mound. Court documents state that merely four minutes later, the bettor and associates won $11,000 by wagering that Clase would throw a pitch slower than 97.95 mph.
Clase, a three-time All-Star and two-time American League Reliever of the Year, was earning a $4.5 million salary in 2025 as part of a five-year, $20 million contract. Prosecutors allege he began providing bettors with information about his pitches in 2023 but didn't request payments until this year.
Ortiz, who had a $782,600 salary this season, allegedly joined the scheme in June and is accused of manipulating pitches in games against the Seattle Mariners and St. Louis Cardinals.
Both players face multiple serious charges including:
- Wire fraud conspiracy
- Honest services wire fraud conspiracy
- Money laundering conspiracy
- Conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery
The most severe charges carry potential prison sentences of up to 20 years.
Legal Defence and Broader Context
Ortiz's legal representative, Chris Georgalis, has vigorously maintained his client's innocence, stating that "he has never, and would never, improperly influence a game — not for anyone and not for anything." Georgalis further claimed that payments between Ortiz and individuals in the Dominican Republic were for legitimate activities and that this had been previously documented for prosecutors.
This case represents the latest development in a comprehensive federal crackdown on betting corruption within professional sports. Last month, more than 30 individuals—including prominent basketball figures such as Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier—were arrested in a separate gambling investigation that shook the NBA.
As the legal proceedings advance, the sports world watches closely, concerned about the potential long-term implications for baseball's integrity and the broader relationship between professional sports and gambling.
