CLEVELAND, OH – Two Cleveland Guardians pitchers face federal charges in what prosecutors are calling one of the most serious gambling-related scandals to hit Major League Baseball since Pete Rose’s lifetime ban in 1989.
Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz were indicted Sunday by the Eastern District of New York on charges including wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, and bribery conspiracy. The players allegedly coordinated with bettors to throw specific pitches as balls, enabling gamblers to win proposition bets on their performances.
According to federal prosecutors, Clase began working with a bettor as early as May 2023 to deliberately throw pitches outside the strike zone. Ortiz joined the scheme in June 2025. Together, the conspiracy enabled bettors to win approximately $450,000 through wagers placed on the pitchers’ actions, with both players receiving kickbacks from the illegal arrangement.
Each player faces up to 20 years in federal prison for the wire fraud and money laundering charges, plus an additional five years for bribery conspiracy if convicted on all counts.
Ortiz was arrested Sunday morning in Boston and faced arraignment Monday in federal court. Clase remains free and has not been taken into custody. Major League Baseball placed both pitchers on non-disciplinary paid leave in July after betting-integrity monitoring firms detected irregular wagering patterns on Ortiz’s pitches in June.
U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. condemned the alleged scheme in a statement. “The defendants defrauded the online betting platforms, and they betrayed America’s pastime,” Nocella said. “These players violated the trust of their teammates, their organization, and baseball fans everywhere.”
MLB officials confirmed they contacted federal law enforcement immediately upon discovering the suspicious betting activity and continue to cooperate fully with investigators. The league has not yet announced what additional disciplinary measures may be imposed beyond the current paid administrative leave.
The scandal represents a significant blow to the sport’s integrity at a time when legalized sports betting has expanded across the United States. The case highlights growing concerns about athletes potentially exploiting their positions for financial gain through gambling partnerships.
Clase, who has served as the Guardians’ closer, and Ortiz, a relief pitcher, were both active members of the team’s bullpen before being placed on leave. The organization has not commented publicly on the charges beyond confirming its cooperation with the federal investigation.
This marks the most serious gambling-related prosecution involving active professional baseball players in decades. The investigation remains ongoing as federal authorities work to determine if additional individuals were involved in the betting conspiracy.
