Federal prosecutors unsealed an indictment Sunday charging Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz with fraud, conspiracy and bribery over an alleged scheme to manipulate specific pitches so bettors could win prop wagers. Prosecutors say Clase agreed with a bettor as early as May 2023 to deliver particular pitches as balls, and that Ortiz joined the scheme in June 2025; combined, bettors reportedly won at least $450,000. Ortiz was arrested Sunday morning in Boston and is expected in court Monday; Clase is not in custody. Major League Baseball placed both players on non-disciplinary paid leave in July while its probe continues.
Key Takeaways
- Charges unsealed Sunday in the Eastern District of New York name Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz for alleged pitch-rigging that benefited prop bettors.
- Prosecutors say wagers tied to specific pitches returned at least $450,000 to bettors; kickbacks were paid to the pitchers for participation.
- Clase allegedly began coordinating with a bettor in May 2023; Ortiz is accused of joining in June 2025.
- Each defendant faces maximum statutory penalties: up to 20 years for wire-fraud and honest-services fraud conspiracies, 20 years for money-laundering conspiracy and five years for conspiracy to influence sporting events by bribery.
- Both players were placed on non-disciplinary paid leave by MLB in July after irregular betting patterns were flagged by integrity firms.
- Prosecutors likened the case’s gravity to historical gambling scandals in baseball, citing potential lifetime penalties under MLB rules similar to recent bans.
Background
The indictment was brought by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, the same office that recently charged other sports figures in betting-related investigations. Over the past decade, the expansion of legalized sports wagering across U.S. states has increased monitoring by betting-integrity firms and law enforcement. Those firms look for unusual prop-bet patterns—wagers on very specific in-game events—which can trigger investigations when correlated with inside information or irregular player behavior.
Historically, baseball has treated gambling by participants as an existential threat to competitive integrity; the sport’s strict rules date to the Pete Rose lifetime ban in 1989 for betting on baseball. More recently, MLB has levied indefinite discipline against players tied to betting violations, most prominently the 2024 ban of San Diego’s Tucupita Marcano for placing nearly 400 bets on baseball. Teams, leagues and federal prosecutors now operate in closer coordination when wagering anomalies point to possible criminal conduct.
Main Event
The indictment alleges that Clase arranged with a bettor to intentionally throw pitches that would be called balls so that the bettor could place prop bets on those exact outcomes. According to prosecutors, this arrangement began in May 2023. In June 2025, Ortiz is accused of joining the arrangement, after which wagers tied to the pitchers’ pitches produced at least $450,000 in winnings for bettors.
Federal authorities say kickbacks were provided to the players for their cooperation. The indictment was unsealed Sunday; Ortiz was arrested that morning in Boston and will appear in federal court Monday, while Clase remains at large and has not been detained. The U.S. Attorney’s Office detailed multiple counts including wire fraud and conspiracy related to honest services, money laundering, and bribery tied to influencing sporting events.
Major League Baseball placed both pitchers on non-disciplinary paid leave in July following alerts from betting-integrity services about two Ortiz pitches in June that drew abnormal betting. MLB said it notified federal law enforcement at the outset of its probe and has cooperated throughout; the league’s investigation remains active. The Cleveland Guardians said they are aware of law enforcement action and will continue cooperating with authorities and MLB.
Analysis & Implications
If convictions occur, the criminal penalties available under the indictment are substantial, with multiple counts carrying decades-long maximum sentences. Beyond prison exposure, MLB’s internal rules allow for career-ending discipline, including lifetime bans, which would likely follow conviction or definitive league findings. The combination of federal criminal exposure and league sanctions raises the stakes for defendants and the sport.
The case also highlights how prop betting creates new vectors for corruption. Unlike traditional outcome bets (which are pooled and harder to manipulate at the individual-event level), prop wagers on very specific actions—such as whether a pitch is a ball—can be highly sensitive to a single participant’s conduct. That asymmetry makes integrity monitoring both more essential and more complex for leagues and sportsbooks.
For the Guardians organization, the allegations pose reputational and competitive challenges. Even without a conviction, prolonged investigations can disrupt a bullpen, erode fan trust and affect roster decisions. For MLB, high-profile federal indictments intensify pressure to strengthen oversight, coordinate with wagering operators and potentially expand disciplinary frameworks or monitoring technologies.
Comparison & Data
| Item | Instance |
|---|---|
| Alleged bettor winnings | $450,000 (at least) |
| Clase coordination began | May 2023 |
| Ortiz joined | June 2025 |
| MLB paid leave | July (year not specified in ruling) |
| Maximum statutory sentences | Up to 20 years (multiple counts), plus 5 years (bribery conspiracy) |
The table summarizes the indictment’s core numeric claims and timelines. Taken together, the data show a multi-year window of alleged activity starting in 2023 and an escalation in mid-2025 when Ortiz is accused of joining. The $450,000 figure reflects only reported bettor wins tied to the charged scheme, not any ancillary gains or unreported transactions.
Reactions & Quotes
Federal prosecutors framed the charges as an attack on the sport’s integrity, emphasizing harm to fans and wagering platforms. The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District highlighted that the defendants undermined honest services to both the Guardians and Major League Baseball and defrauded online betting platforms.
“They deprived the Cleveland Guardians and Major League Baseball of their honest services… They betrayed America’s pastime.”
Joseph Nocella Jr., U.S. Attorney, EDNY (official statement)
MLB reiterated cooperation with law enforcement and a continuing internal probe; the Guardians affirmed they will assist both authorities and the league as investigations progress.
“MLB contacted federal law enforcement at the outset of its investigation and has fully cooperated throughout the process.”
Major League Baseball (official statement)
ESPN sought comment from the players’ attorneys; messages had not been returned at the time the indictment was unsealed. The team issued a brief statement acknowledging awareness of the law enforcement action and pledging cooperation.
“We are aware of the recent law enforcement action. We will continue to fully cooperate…”
Cleveland Guardians (team statement)
Unconfirmed
- Whether additional players, team staff or outside intermediaries were involved beyond Clase, Ortiz and the identified bettor remains unconfirmed.
- The indictment’s publicly reported $450,000 figure may not capture all related or ancillary betting activity; total scope could differ as investigators continue.
- Any internal Guardians discipline beyond MLB-imposed leave has not been publicly disclosed.
Bottom Line
The indictment alleges a targeted scheme to manipulate individual pitches for profit, a charge that combines criminal exposure with potentially career-ending league discipline. The overlap of federal prosecutors and MLB in this investigation signals a coordinated, high-stakes response to wagering-related corruption in baseball.
For fans and the sport, the case raises urgent questions about monitoring, deterrence and the adequacy of current safeguards around prop wagering. The coming weeks—court appearances, discovery and MLB’s internal findings—will determine whether the allegations result in convictions, bans, or broader policy changes across professional sports.
Sources
- ESPN — media report summarizing indictment and team/league statements.
- U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of New York — official office page for related press releases and case filings (official).
- Major League Baseball — league statements and policy information (official).