A gambling scandal has rocked MLB after Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz were indicted for sharing inside information about their pitches with sports bettors.
Clase, considered one of the best finishers in the game, aroused suspicion in July. While Clase has reportedly been rigging his pitches for punters since 2023, his teammate, Ortiz, has joined the fray this season.
Clase and Ortiz allowed involved bettors to bet on smaller events, like the speed of a pitch or a pitch called a strike or ball. They provided information to players before matches to coordinate bets placed on their grounds. Punters are said to have wagered at least $450,000 on their slots.
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MLB placed the Guardians’ pitching duo on non-disciplinary paid leave in July after the league opened an investigation into suspicious betting activity. Their leave was extended until the end of the investigation.
Ortiz was arrested by Boston authorities on charges of wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy and conspiracy to corruptly influence athletic competitions. Meanwhile, Clase has not yet been arrested.
Lawyers for Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz maintain their clients’ innocence
Luis Ortiz, arrested by authorities on Sunday, will be presented in court on Monday. However, his lawyer, Chris Georgalis, denied the accusations against Ortiz.
“He has never and will never inappropriately influence a game – not for anyone or anything,” Georgalis said.
Michael J. Ferrara, Emmanuel Clase’s lawyer, also proclaimed his client’s innocence. Both men face more than 20 years in prison if convicted of the charges against them.
Edited by Chaitanya Prakash
