Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz are facing federal fraud and bribery charges after prosecutors accused them of rigging pitches that allowed gamblers to profit by hundreds of thousands of dollars.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, an indictment unsealed by federal prosecutors in the Eastern District of New York on Sunday, Nov. 9, revealed that Clase, 27, and Ortiz, 26, were charged with fraud, conspiracy, and bribery conspiracy in connection with the alleged scheme.
Ortiz was reportedly arrested in Boston on Sunday and is expected to make his first court appearance on Monday, Nov. 10. Clase is not currently in custody.
Prosecutors allege that Clase began working with a gambler as early as May 2023, intentionally throwing certain pitches that allowed insiders to place and win prop bets—wagers based on specific in-game events. Ortiz allegedly joined the operation in June 2025. Gamblers are said to have won at least $450,000 wagering on both players’ pitches, and prosecutors claim that each athlete was paid for his role in the conspiracy.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(999x0:1001x2):format(webp)/Luis-L.-Ortiz-110925-f8d387819dbd40bd998cb21b730030aa.jpg)
U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. of the Eastern District stated to ESPN that Clase and Ortiz “deprived the Cleveland Guardians and Major League Baseball of their honest services.”
“They defrauded the online betting platforms where the bets were placed,” Nocella said. “And they betrayed America’s pastime. Integrity, honesty, and fair play are part of the DNA of professional sports. When corruption infiltrates the sport, it brings disgrace not only to the participants but also damages the public’s trust in an institution that is vital and dear to all of us.”
In a statement to ESPN, Ortiz’s lawyer, Chris Georgalis, said his client “denies all the allegations against him.”
“He has never, and would never, improperly influence a game — not for anyone and not for anything,” the statement read.
“There is no credible evidence Luis knowingly did anything other than try to win games, with every pitch and in every inning. Luis looks forward to fighting these charges in court. The government’s case is weak and circumstantial. He will defend himself, and he will prevail.”
Major League Baseball confirmed to ESPN that it contacted federal law enforcement at the outset of the investigation and has “fully cooperated throughout the process.” MLB added, “We are aware of the indictment and today’s arrest, and our investigation is ongoing.”
The Cleveland Guardians also issued a statement, saying: “We are aware of the recent law enforcement action. We will continue to fully cooperate with both law enforcement and Major League Baseball as their investigations continue.”
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(999x0:1001x2):format(webp)/Emmanuel-Clase-110925-e04ef36cd8f2454aaa0fe0070e7ae10a.jpg)
This indictment follows a string of high-profile betting scandals in professional sports. Just weeks ago, Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, and former Cleveland Cavaliers player Damon Jones were arrested in connection with a major sports gambling operation allegedly tied to organized crime. That case is also being prosecuted by the Eastern District of New York.
Additionally, MLB permanently banned Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano in June after investigators found he placed hundreds of bets on baseball games.
Clase and Ortiz were placed on non-disciplinary paid leave “until further notice” by MLB in July, after betting investigators flagged suspicious wagers on two of Ortiz’s pitches in June.
According to ESPN, both players face up to 20 years in prison for wire fraud conspiracy, 20 years for honest services wire fraud conspiracy, 20 years for money laundering conspiracy, and five years for conspiracy to influence sporting events by bribery.
