Cleveland Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz appeared in federal court on Monday on charges of taking bribes to manipulate prop bets on pitches. A judge in Boston granted Ortiz release on a $500,000 bond, with conditions including surrendering his passport and restricting travel to the US northeast.
Ortiz, 26, and teammate Emmanuel Clase are accused of accepting thousands of dollars to help two unnamed gamblers in the Dominican Republic win at least $460,000 on bets placed on pitch speed and outcomes. Clase, a three-time All-Star closer, is believed to be outside the US.
According to the indictment, Clase provided bettors with pitch information since 2023 but only sought payoffs this year. In one instance, he allegedly spoke with a bettor before a game against the Boston Red Sox, leading to an $11,000 win on a pitch speed wager. Ortiz is accused of rigging pitches in games against the Seattle Mariners and St Louis Cardinals starting in June.
Both players face charges including wire fraud conspiracy and conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery, with maximum sentences of up to 20 years. Major League Baseball announced new limits on pitch betting, capping wagers at $200 and excluding them from parlays.
Ortiz’s lawyer, Chris Georgalis, stated his client is innocent and that payments were for legal activities. US attorney Joseph Nocella Jr said the players “betrayed America’s pastime.” MLB and the Guardians confirmed ongoing investigations.
