Two Cleveland Guardians pitchers, Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, are at the center of a sweeping federal investigation after being accused of taking bribes from sports bettors to manipulate the outcome of specific pitches during Major League Baseball (MLB) games. Federal prosecutors allege the two players worked with corrupt gamblers who used inside information to win hundreds of thousands of dollars on proposition bets.
Alleged Scheme Involving Rigged Pitches
According to the unsealed indictment in Brooklyn federal court, the investigation revealed a scheme that began in May 2023, when Clase, then a relief pitcher for the Guardians, allegedly began coordinating with bettors to rig prop bets. These bets focused on the type and speed of certain pitches. Prosecutors claim Clase intentionally threw balls outside the strike zone or changed pitch types to ensure wagers succeeded. The bettors, equipped with advance knowledge of these pitches, allegedly won more than $400,000 in fraudulent bets.
In exchange for sharing this information, Clase allegedly received bribes and kickbacks and, at times, provided funds for the bettors to place wagers. The indictment cited multiple games, including one against the New York Mets, as examples of the manipulation.
By June 2025, starting pitcher Luis Ortiz had allegedly joined the plot. Prosecutors say Ortiz agreed to throw specific pitches as balls in return for bribes. Before a June 15 game, Ortiz reportedly accepted $5,000 to throw a ball, while Clase received an equal payment for facilitating the fix. Two weeks later, the pattern allegedly repeated. Ahead of a June 27 matchup, Ortiz purportedly took a $7,000 bribe to throw a pitch out of the strike zone. Investigators noted that Clase withdrew $50,000 before that game, with $15,000 traced to wagers on the rigged play.
Statements from Prosecutors and the FBI
U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. described the case as a profound breach of trust. “Professional athletes, like Luis Leandro Ortiz and Emmanuel Clase de la Cruz hold a position of trust—not only with their teammates and their professional leagues, but with fans who believe in fair play,” Nocella said. “As alleged, the defendants sold that trust to gamblers by fixing pitches. In doing so, the defendants deprived the Cleveland Guardians and Major League Baseball of their honest services. They defrauded the online betting platforms where the bets were placed. And they betrayed America’s pastime.”
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia echoed the sentiment, saying, “Luis Leandro Ortiz and Emmanuel Clase de la Cruz allegedly rigged their pitches in professional baseball games, so that an inner circle, and occasionally themselves, could quietly cash out their winnings.” Raia added that the alleged actions “sullied the reputation of America’s pastime” and reaffirmed the FBI’s commitment to holding athletes accountable for exploiting their positions.
Legal Fallout and Responses
Each defendant faces four conspiracy counts, including wire fraud, honest services wire fraud, bribery, and money laundering. If convicted, they could receive up to 20 years in prison on the major counts. Ortiz was arrested in Boston on November 10, 2025, while Clase remains outside U.S. custody.
The indictment alleges that the players’ coordination with bettors extended into text messages exchanged during games, with Clase even asking one gambler to send money “for repairs at the country house” in the Dominican Republic. Both men are said to have received bribes in exchange for manipulating outcomes of the first pitch of an inning.
Attorneys for the players have publicly denied the charges. Ortiz’s lawyer, Chris Georgalis, stated that his client “has never, and would never, improperly influence a game — not for anyone and not for anything,” while Clase’s attorney, Michael J. Ferrara, asserted that his client “has devoted his life to baseball and doing everything in his power to help his team win.”
MLB confirmed it had placed both players on non-disciplinary paid leave in July after integrity monitors flagged unusual betting patterns linked to their games. “MLB contacted federal law enforcement at the outset of its investigation and has fully cooperated throughout the process,” the league said in a statement. The Guardians also expressed their cooperation with investigators as the probe continues.
