MLB Guardians players indicted for taking bribes to rig pitches
The Bob Feller Act of Valor Award Foundation in conjunction with the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Major League Baseball led by the Cleveland Guardians, along with NEOPAT honor the USS Cooperstown (LCS 23) by presenting the United States Navy. (Photo courtesy of Cleveland Guardians)
Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz were allegedly caught taking bribes to rig the baseball games, according to a federal indictment.
Clase and Ortiz were charged with fraud, conspiracy and bribery. The baseball players could spend up to 65 years in prison each, if convicted.
The alleged rigging of the games resulted in unnamed gamblers winning at least $450,000, ESPN reported.
Ortiz, 26, was arrested by the FBI on November 9 at Boston Logan International Airport and is scheduled to appear in court on Monday, according to the Associated Press. Clase, 27, is not in custody.
Prosecutors at the Eastern District of New York said in the indictment that Clase arranged with a bettor as early as May 2023, and Ortiz joined the scheme in June 2025.
“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 trust in an institution that is vital and dear to all of us,” Joseph Nocella Jr., the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District, said.
Ortiz’s attorney, Chris Georgalis, told ESPN that his client “has never, and would never, improperly influence a game — not for anyone and not for anything.” A lawyer for Clase, Michael J. Ferrara, also claimed that his client is innocent, adding that Clase “looks forward to clearing his name in court.”
Georgalis noted that “Luis’ payments and other transfers of money between him and individuals in the Dominican Republic were for lawful activities.”
“The indictment completely lacks any alleged evidence connecting Luis to these alleged bettors or demonstrating any purposeful involvement in a scheme,” he said.
The Guardians placed Clase and Ortiz on non-disciplinary paid leave in July, when MLB began investigating what it described as unusually high in-game betting activity during their pitching appearances. The team told ESPN they will continue to cooperate with law enforcement and MLB.
“MLB contacted federal law enforcement at the outset of its investigation and has fully cooperated throughout the process. We are aware of the indictment and today’s arrest, and our investigation is ongoing,” the league stated.
The recent news followed the discovery last month that more than 30 people, including the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers head coach and Basketball Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups, as well as Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, were involved in sports gambling.
