Major League Baseball has been rocked by another gambling scandal — one that federal prosecutors say cuts directly to the integrity of the sport. Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz were indicted on charges of fraud, conspiracy, and bribery after an alleged scheme to rig individual pitches for betting purposes, according to an indictment unsealed Sunday by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York.
Ortiz, 26, was arrested Sunday morning in Boston and is expected to appear in court Monday. Clase, 27, is not in custody, prosecutors said. Both face a potential maximum of 65 years in prison if convicted on all counts, including wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy to influence sporting events by bribery.
According to prosecutors, Clase began collaborating with a bettor as early as May 2023, agreeing to intentionally throw specific pitches — such as sliders instead of cutters, or pitches outside the strike zone — to influence individual pitch prop bets. Ortiz allegedly joined the scheme in June 2025, helping bettors win at least $450,000 through wagers on manipulated pitches.
In return, Clase and Ortiz received kickbacks for their participation, prosecutors said. Text messages included in the 23-page indictment show Clase coordinating in real time with gamblers, even texting one bettor after a game asking, “Did you bet on that pitch?”
In one cited example, during a May 19, 2023, game against the New York Mets, bettors won $27,000 after Clase tipped that he would throw a pitch faster than 94.95 mph. Weeks later, another pitch intentionally spiked in front of home plate netted bettors $38,000 in winnings.
By April 2025, the indictment alleges, Clase was “requesting and receiving bribes and kickbacks in exchange for agreeing to throw specific pitches.”
Ortiz’s involvement, prosecutors said, began when he agreed to throw the first pitch of the second inning for a ball in a June 15, 2025, game. Bettors placed $13,000 on that pitch and won after Ortiz complied. In a message cited in the indictment, Clase advised Ortiz to lie about the payment, telling him to say “this payment is for a horse” if asked.
Two weeks later, Ortiz agreed to throw another intentional ball for $7,000, prosecutors said. Bank footage later captured Clase withdrawing $50,000 in cash, which was partially used to fund the bets.
Both players have denied wrongdoing through their attorneys.
Chris Georgalis, representing Ortiz, told ESPN, “Luis has never, and would never, improperly influence a game — not for anyone and not for anything.”
Michael J. Ferrara, Clase’s attorney, issued a similar statement: “Emmanuel has devoted his life to baseball and doing everything in his power to help his team win. He is innocent of all charges and looks forward to clearing his name in court.”
Major League Baseball confirmed that both players were placed on non-disciplinary paid leave in July, after betting integrity firms flagged irregular wagering patterns linked to pitches thrown by Ortiz in June.
In a statement Sunday, MLB said:
“MLB contacted federal law enforcement at the outset of its investigation and has fully cooperated throughout the process. We are aware of the indictment and today’s arrest, and our investigation is ongoing.”
The Cleveland Guardians issued their own statement, saying they are “aware of the charges and will continue to cooperate fully with law enforcement and MLB.”
The allegations against Clase and Ortiz represent the most severe gambling-related scandal in baseball since Pete Rose’s lifetime ban in 1989. MLB has struggled in recent years to balance its lucrative partnerships with legal sportsbooks against the growing threat of corruption.
The league handed out its first lifetime ban for betting in more than three decades last year, when San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano was banned for wagering on baseball.
Clase, a three-time All-Star and two-time Reliever of the Year, has earned over $12 million in his seven-year career and was slated to make $6.4 million in 2026. Ortiz, acquired by Cleveland in a December 2024 trade, earned a 2025 salary of $782,600.
The indictment paints a picture of greed and recklessness that could once again test the public’s trust in professional sports.
If convicted, both players face lengthy prison sentences and — more immediately — likely lifetime bans from Major League Baseball.
While legalized sports betting has become mainstream, MLB’s gambling rules remain unequivocal: no betting on baseball, no influencing the outcome of games.
For Clase and Ortiz, the line appears to have been crossed — and the consequences could be devastating not just for their careers, but for the sport itself.
