Cleveland Guardians Pitcher Denies Charges in MLB Betting Plot
Luis Ortiz, a pitcher for the Cleveland Guardians, has formally entered a plea of not guilty to federal charges alleging his involvement in a conspiracy to rig bets on Major League Baseball games. The 26-year-old athlete and his teammate, Emmanuel Clase, stand accused of accepting bribes from bettors to manipulate specific pitches during games.
The Charges and Court Appearances
The Department of Justice has charged both players with multiple counts, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and bribery. Ortiz was arrested in Boston on Sunday. He made his initial appearance in a federal courtroom there the following day.
On Wednesday, the scene shifted to Brooklyn, where Ortiz was arraigned. He arrived at the court wearing a black leather jacket over a black shirt and was escorted by police officers as he navigated past reporters, refusing to answer any questions.
Bail Conditions and Ongoing Case
In Boston, US Magistrate Judge Donald Cabell granted Ortiz his release under strict conditions. These include the surrender of his passport, a travel restriction limiting him to the Northeast region of the US, and the posting of a $500,000 bail, with $50,000 of that amount required to be secured. The judge also ordered Ortiz to avoid any contact with potential victims, witnesses, or co-defendants in the case.
During the brief hearing in Brooklyn, the baseball star remained silent. His legal team also declined to comment to the press after the proceedings concluded.
While Ortiz is now dealing with the legal system in the United States, his fellow accused, Emmanuel Clase, has been charged but is not currently in US custody. The case continues to develop as one of the most significant alleged sports corruption scandals in recent MLB history.
