New York, December 02, 2025
Two Cleveland Guardians pitchers, Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, have been federally indicted in Brooklyn on multiple felony charges concerning a sophisticated scheme to manipulate Major League Baseball pitch-specific betting markets between 2023 and 2025. The indictments expose a major integrity breach in professional baseball and carry potential decades-long prison sentences.
Details of the Alleged Pitch-Rigging Scheme
Emmanuel Clase allegedly initiated a plot as early as May 2023 to rig prop bets on individual baseball pitches by intentionally throwing predetermined balls or pitches at specific speeds during MLB games. Luis Ortiz joined the conspiracy in June 2025 after recruitment by Clase. They reportedly accepted bribes from bettors in exchange for deliberately throwing pitches as agreed. For instance, Ortiz allegedly took $5,000 on June 15, 2025, to throw a ball as his first pitch in the second inning, with Clase receiving $5,000 for brokering the arrangement. A similar transaction occurred on June 27, 2025, generating $7,000 each for first-pitch balls in the third inning.
Communication between the players and bettors included real-time text messaging during games, with Clase reportedly requesting bettors send some winnings to the Dominican Republic for personal expenses. The scheme’s financial scope reportedly resulted in approximately $700,000 in benefits for bettors associating with Clase and $60,000 linked to Ortiz’s participation.
Criminal Charges and Potential Legal Ramifications
Both pitchers face four felony counts: wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, and conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery. Conviction on all charges could lead to sentences totaling up to 65 years in federal prison, including up to 20 years each for the wire fraud and money laundering allegations, plus an additional 5 years for sports bribery. Ortiz was arrested in Boston immediately following the indictment disclosure; Clase has not yet been detained.
Reactions from Major League Baseball and Law Enforcement
Major League Baseball confirmed it contacted federal authorities early in the investigative process and has cooperated fully with law enforcement. The league’s own inquiry remains active. Prosecutors reportedly rely on anomalous betting patterns, communication evidence, and expert statistical analysis to substantiate claims of performance manipulation linked to the indicted pitchers.
The unfolding scandal presents significant challenges to the credibility of professional baseball betting markets and sports integrity. Authorities and MLB officials continue to scrutinize betting activities and player conduct, signaling ongoing efforts to safeguard the sport’s legitimacy.
As investigations proceed, the case underscores increasing scrutiny on sports betting influence and the vulnerability of athletic contests to manipulation schemes in an era of expanding gambling markets. The outcomes will likely influence regulatory and compliance frameworks within MLB and professional sports at large.