Cleveland Guardians’ standout pitcher Emmanuel Clase was apprehended at John F. Kennedy Airport on Thursday on allegations of accepting bribes to manipulate game outcomes in favor of gamblers. Clase, aged 27, was arrested upon his arrival from the Dominican Republic. The U.S. attorney’s office confirmed the arrest.
The highly acclaimed player, a three-time all-star and two-time American League reliever of the year, is set to make a court appearance in Brooklyn federal court later the same day for his arraignment. His teammate, Luis Ortiz, who was also linked to the purported scheme, pleaded not guilty a day earlier.
Both Clase and Ortiz have been on paid leave without disciplinary action since July while Major League Baseball (MLB) investigated an unusual surge in in-game betting activities during their pitching appearances. Prosecutors claim that the duo received bribes amounting to thousands of dollars to assist two unidentified gamblers from the Dominican Republic in winning over $460,000 by betting on the speed and results of their pitches.
Allegations suggest that Clase, currently in the fourth year of a five-year, $20 million contract, began sharing information about his pitches with the bettors in 2023, only starting to demand payoffs earlier this year. Prosecutors assert that Clase frequently threw manipulated pitches at the start of an at-bat, ensuring the ball landed outside the strike zone to prompt umpires to call it a ball rather than a strike.
During an April game against the Boston Red Sox, Clase reportedly conversed with a gambler over the phone just before pitching. Subsequently, the bettor and associates won $11,000 by accurately wagering that Clase would pitch below 97.95 miles per hour.
Clase has denied the accusations, with his lawyer, Michael Ferrara, emphasizing his commitment to baseball and helping his team succeed. Similarly, Ortiz’s lawyer, Chris Georgalis, refuted the charges, asserting that financial transactions between Ortiz and individuals in the Dominican Republic were legitimate.
Both Clase and Ortiz face multiple charges, including wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, and conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery, with the most severe charges carrying a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison. Following their indictment, MLB introduced new restrictions on betting during individual pitches.
These developments mark the latest in a series of gambling scandals affecting American professional sports since the legalization of sports betting in most states following a significant 2018 U.S. Supreme Court ruling. In a recent incident, more than 30 individuals, including prominent figures like Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, were arrested in a gambling investigation involving insider information on NBA athletes and manipulated poker games associated with organized crime syndicates.
