Cleveland Guardians’ pitcher pleads not guilty in rigging games
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)
A Cleveland Guardians pitcher pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges that he and his teammate were rigging games so that gamblers would benefit from it.
Luis Ortiz appeared in Brooklyn federal court after he was arrested Sunday at Logan International Airport in Boston. He was released on a $500,000 bond and will be monitored via GPS until his next court date, scheduled for Nov. 19, according to ESPN.
Ortiz relinquished his passport and was ordered to curb his travel to New York, Massachusetts and Ohio. He was also ordered not to gamble, possess firearms or illegal drugs or be in contact with co-conspirators, victims and witnesses in the case.
His teammate, Emmanuel Clase, appeared in the same courthouse on Thursday.
Cleveland sports commentator Terry Pluto responded to the news, stating that the betting scandal has tarnished the integrity of the game. He noted that many baseball fans, particularly Guardians fans, expressed their frustration and disappointment to him via email.
“I’ve been receiving emails, ‘Remember the ’24 playoffs, Clase gave up three home runs in the postseason after he only gave up two all year,’” Pluto said. “Now, nothing in these indictments said that he was throwing the playoffs or any of that, but fans are going, was that going on? Another guy just emailed me this morning. He said, ‘Now only every time I see a pitcher throw a crazy pitch into the dirt that bounces five feet in front of the plate, it makes me wonder.”
He then said, “Those bets have to go,” according to WOSU Public Media.
“All this micro betting and all that, that’s got to go,” he said.
Pluto said that if the players are convicted on any of the charges, they should receive a lifetime ban from Major League Baseball.
“You’re done forever and ever, amen, because you have to scare the players,” Pluto said. “It’s a really sad day for baseball.”
Clase and Ortiz were charged with fraud, conspiracy and bribery. They could spend up to 65 years in prison each, if convicted.
Prosecutors with 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.
The Guardians placed Clase and Ortiz on non-disciplinary paid leave in July, when MLB started investigating what it described as unusually high in-game betting activity during their pitching appearances. The team said that they will continue to cooperate with law enforcement and MLB.
