The Eastern District of New York is becoming the country’s unofficial epicenter of gambling prosecutions. The same prosecutors who filed a sweeping indictment last month involving multiple NBA figures have now indicted a pair of pitchers from the Cleveland Guardians.
Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz face multiple charges, including fraud, conspiracy, and bribery, arising from an effort to rig bets on pitches thrown during games. Ortiz was arrested in Boston, while Clase has not yet been detained. Both allegedly face up to 65 years in prison.
The 23-page indictment accuses the pitchers of deliberately throwing balls so that gamblers could place bets on balls versus strikes. The scheme reportedly began as early as May 2023, initially involving Clase and later including Ortiz.
Prosecutors specifically allege that Ortiz received $5,000 for throwing an intentional ball on June 15, with Clase getting $5,000 for facilitating the pitch. The duo allegedly repeated this on June 27, receiving $7,000 each.
Both players had been placed on paid leave during the 2025 season, pending an investigation by Major League Baseball. However, that probe now takes a back seat to the federal investigation, which jeopardizes the liberty of the two players.
In a statement to ESPN.com, 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.”
This situation underscores the perils of prop bets and microbets, which can be easily manipulated by individual players. Unfortunately, it appears some players can be vulnerable to corruption by gambling interests.
https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/guardians-pitchers-emmanuel-clase-and-luis-ortiz-are-indicted-on-gambling-charges
