The world of Major League Baseball betting has once again been jolted by a gambling scandal that strikes at the heart of the sport’s integrity. Federal prosecutors announced that Cleveland Guardians pitcher Emmanuel Clase and starter Luis L. Ortiz have been indicted for their alleged roles in manipulating pitch outcomes for betting purposes. Both men face up to 65 years in prison if convicted.
The US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York unsealed the indictment on Sunday, describing an elaborate operation in which Clase and Ortiz allegedly conspired with gamblers to profit from micro-level bets on pitch speed and outcomes. Authorities say the misconduct lines up with data from betting platforms that paid out hundreds of thousands of dollars in illicit winnings between 2023 and 2025.
According to the indictment, Clase’s alleged involvement began in May 2023, when he purportedly communicated with bettors via text messages during live games. These exchanges, prosecutors claim, allowed gamblers to place precise prop bets, such as whether a pitch would be slower than a specific mph threshold or whether it would be called a ball.
Investigators estimate that bets placed with his help earned upwards of $700,000. Ortiz allegedly joined the scheme in June 2025, reportedly taking bribes in exchange for deliberately throwing specific pitches for predetermined outcomes.
Both players face four felony counts: wire fraud conspiracy, honest services fraud, conspiracy to influence sporting events through bribery, and money laundering conspiracy. Each count carries a potential penalty of 20 years in prison, for a maximum possible sentence of 65 years. Federal officials emphasized that the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty, but the nature of the charges has already sent shockwaves through professional baseball.
“Professional athletes hold a position of trust — with their teammates, their fans, and the leagues they represent… As alleged, these defendants sold that trust to gamblers by fixing pitches. They betrayed their sport and the public’s belief in fair play.”
US Attorney Joseph Nocella, Jr.
Ortiz has publicly denied the allegations, releasing a statement through his attorney asserting that he “has never, and would never, improperly influence a game.” His legal team contends that the government’s case is built on circumstantial evidence and insists that Ortiz will “vigorously defend himself and prevail.”
Major League Baseball stated that it had contacted federal law enforcement as soon as suspicions arose and has cooperated fully throughout the investigation. The Cleveland Guardians issued a separate statement vowing to continue assisting both MLB and federal prosecutors, calling the developments “deeply troubling” but affirming confidence in the justice process.
The scandal marks the latest in a string of integrity crises for professional sports as legal sports betting continues to expand nationwide. For MLB, still grappling with the legacy of its most infamous gambling cases (Pete Rose, the 1919 Black Sox), this indictment represents another test of the game’s moral foundation.
As Nocella put it, “Integrity, honesty, and fair play are part of baseball’s DNA. When corruption infiltrates the sport, it damages not only the field of play but the faith of every fan watching.”
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