Cleveland Guardians’ pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz face allegations of accepting bribes from sports bettors to manipulate their pitch performances. The accusations suggest they deliberately threw inaccurate pitches, such as balls instead of strikes, to influence specific betting outcomes.
An indictment revealed that Clase and Ortiz, hailing from the Dominican Republic, allegedly assisted bettors in winning prop bets related to pitch speed and results by intentionally throwing slower pitches well outside the strike zone. Both players have been on paid leave since July following MLB’s investigation into suspicious betting activities during their games.
FBI arrested Ortiz at Boston Logan International Airport, while Clase remains at large. The charges brought against them include wire fraud conspiracy, bribery to influence sporting events, and money laundering, carrying potential sentences of up to 20 years if convicted.
These allegations mark the latest development in a broader crackdown on sports betting irregularities. The surge in betting incidents involving athletes and officials stems from a pivotal 2018 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that legalized sports betting in many states, leading to an increased presence of online sportsbooks in the industry.
Recently, over 30 individuals, including notable basketball personalities like Chauncey Billups and Terry Rozier, were arrested in connection with a gambling probe that shook the NBA. Professional leagues, including MLB, have been vigilant in addressing such issues and have collaborated closely with law enforcement agencies in ongoing investigations.
Both Major League Baseball and the Cleveland Guardians have affirmed their commitment to cooperating with authorities and ensuring the integrity of the sport amidst these challenging circumstances.
