On Sunday, federal authorities indicted two prominent Cleveland Guardians pitchers, Luis Ortiz and Emmanuel Clase, for their involvement in a complex gambling scheme that allegedly manipulated the outcomes of Major League Baseball games to profit from illegal wagers. The indictment, unsealed by federal prosecutors, accuses both players of conspiring with bettors to rig game outcomes and thereby defraud betting platforms. Ortiz was reportedly arrested in Boston earlier this week, while Clase is still under investigation and has not yet been taken into custody.
The charges against Ortiz and Clase include wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to influence sporting contests through bribery, and money laundering. According to the indictment, both players are from the Dominican Republic, and their alleged scheme began in May 2023, with Ortiz joining the conspiracy in June 2025. The indictment describes how the two pitchers allegedly agreed in advance with co-conspirators to throw specific types and speeds of pitches so that bettors could profit from wagers based on inside information. In some instances, the defendants allegedly received bribes and kickbacks, which were funneled through third parties.
The scheme reportedly ran from May 2023 through June 2025, during which time bettors allegedly won over $400,000 from bets placed on pitches thrown by Clase. Ortiz’s involvement in the scheme began during that period, with allegations that he received payments for throwing specific pitches in exchange for bribes. According to the indictment, Ortiz agreed to throw a ball on his first pitch of the second inning on June 15 against the Seattle Mariners for around $5,000. He also allegedly threw a ball on his first pitch of the third inning on June 27 against the St. Louis Cardinals for $7,000. The indictment states that bettors reportedly won at least $60,000 on pitches thrown by Ortiz in June 2025.
The indictment also highlights that Ortiz and Clase allegedly coordinated with bettors during games, using phones and other means to share information about pitches. The indictment mentions a specific instance in which Clase, during a game against the New York Mets on May 19, 2023, allegedly used his phone to coordinate with a bettor on a pitch he would throw. The indictment further asserts that the defendants defrauded betting platforms, deprived Major League Baseball and the Cleveland Guardians of their honest services, and illegally enriched themselves and their co-conspirators.
These developments follow a broader trend of illegal gambling activities affecting professional sports. The indictment was announced weeks after three NBA players were arrested in a similar scheme involving betting fraud. Chauncey Billups, Terry Rozier, and Damon Jones were among more than two dozen individuals arrested by the FBI in an operation targeting sports betting schemes. The current case reinforces concerns about the integrity of professional sports and the potential for athletes to be involved in criminal enterprises.
The Cleveland Guardians, in a statement, acknowledged the recent law enforcement actions and stated they would continue to cooperate with both law enforcement and Major League Baseball as their investigations continue. MLB has also issued a statement confirming its full cooperation with federal authorities and that its investigation into the matter is ongoing. The league clarified that it reported the issue to federal law enforcement at the outset of its internal investigation and has been working closely with federal agencies since the probe began.
The indictment has sparked a national conversation about the intersection of sports and criminal activity, raising questions about the accountability of athletes and the measures needed to prevent such schemes from occurring in the future. As legal proceedings unfold, the case serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of corruption within the world of professional sports. The outcome of this case could have long-term implications for how leagues and teams approach the issue of athlete integrity and the regulation of sports betting in the United States.