Guardians Pitchers Indicted on Betting-Related Charges
The most recent professional players to be charged with gambling-related offenses are two pitchers for the Cleveland Guardians.
According to reports, Cleveland Guardians pitchers Luis Ortiz and Emmanuel Clase accepted thousands of dollars in payoffs from two Dominican gamblers in exchange for manipulating in-game pitching, including throwing balls rather than strikes, according to indictments unsealed in a Brooklyn federal court today. According to the court filings, the gamblers gained $400,000 on in-game prop bets based on the pace and results of specific pitches.
Ortiz was detained today
The players are accused of money laundering conspiracy, conspiracy to influence athletic events by bribery, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud. Due to inquiries into unusual wagering during games, Major League Baseball had put both pitchers on non-disciplinary paid leave this past summer.
The United States Attorney's Office Eastern District of New York stated that starting in or around May 2023, Clase started working with gamblers to rig prop bets on specific pitches he threw, including the kind and pace of his pitches. Sometimes during MLB games, gamblers would work with Clase to put bets based on information they received beforehand.
Throwing Pitches in the Ground
Clase threw a lot of pitches into the ground, far beyond the strike zone, to guarantee that some were called balls. In addition to receiving kickbacks from the bettors for supplying the pitch information, Clase is also charged with occasionally contributing money up front to finance the scam.
This past June, Ortiz was charged with participating in the illegal plan. In exchange for a bribe, Ortiz consented to collaborate with his accomplices to toss a ball on a specific pitch prior to an MLB game on June 15. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, bettors agreed to pay Ortiz $5,000 for throwing the rigged pitch and Clase $5,000 for setting it up.
Clase and Ortiz are already on leave
Other games where the participants allegedly manipulated pitches in exchange for payoffs are described in the indictment.
At Boston Logan International Airport today, Ortiz was taken into custody by the FBI. Tomorrow, the 26-year-old is scheduled to appear in a Boston federal court. Similar to Ortiz, a Dominican Republic native, Clase, 27, is not yet under arrest.
Fixing Pitches
“Professional athletes, like Luis Leandro Ortiz and Emmanuel Clase de la Cruz hold a position of trust—not only with their teammates and their professional leagues, but with fans who believe in fair play,” said United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Joseph Nocella Jr.
“As alleged, the defendants sold that trust to gamblers by fixing pitches. In doing so, the defendants deprived the Cleveland Guardians and Major League Baseball of their honest services. They defrauded the online betting platforms where the bets were placed. And they betrayed America’s pastime.
“Integrity, honesty and fair play are part of the DNA of professional sports,” he said. “When corruption infiltrates the sport, it brings disgrace not only to the participants but damages the public trust in an institution that is vital and dear to all of us. Today’s charges make clear that our Office will continue to vigorously prosecute those who corrupt sports through illegal means.”
NBA Betting Scandal
In a statement to ESPN, Ortiz's lawyer refuted the accusations. MLB told ESPN in a statement that they are aware of the charges and that their own investigation is still underway.
An NBA betting scandal erupted this month when Miami Heat player Terry Rozier was arrested by the FBI for allegedly pulling himself out of an NBA game early in 2023 while playing for the Charlotte Hornets in order to profit from thousands of dollars in prop bets.
On the same day, former NBA player Damon Jones and Portland Trailblazers head coach and NBA Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups were detained for allegedly participating in an illicit poker scheme that the FBI claimed involved members of New York criminal families, defrauding victims of millions of dollars.
Potential 20-Year Terms
According to Spotrac, Ortiz, a starting pitcher, earned USD $782,000 last year and has earned $2.26 million throughout his career. A three-time All-Star and two-time MLB reliever of the year, Clase is a superb pitcher. He has $15.3 million in career earnings, is in the middle of a five-year, $20 million contract, and will become a free agent in 2029.
Each defendant who is found guilty faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for the wire fraud conspiracy count, 20 years in prison for the honest services wire fraud conspiracy count, five years in prison for the conspiracy to influence sporting events by bribery count, and 20 years in prison for the money laundering conspiracy count.
