On November 9, 2025, federal prosecutors in Brooklyn (Eastern District of New York) unsealed an indictment charging Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz with multiple felony counts: “wire fraud conspiracy,” “honest services fraud conspiracy,” “conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery,” and “money-laundering conspiracy.”
According to the indictment, beginning in or around May 2023, Classe—a known Guardians “closer”—allegedly agreed with gamblers to throw specific pitches: sometimes “ball” instead of “strike,” or throw with a certain speed/interaction, in order to help gamblers place “prop bets.” By June 2025, Ortiz—a pitcher who had just joined the Guardians—allegedly joined the scheme. According to the indictment, in a game against the Seattle Mariners on June 15, 2025, Ortiz was promised about $5,000 to throw the “ball” for the first pitch of the second inning; and agreed to throw the “ball” for the first pitch of the third inning in a game against the St.
Louis Cardinals on June 27, 2025, for about $7,000. The prosecutor said that through a series of “prop bets” based on manipulated pitches, gamblers profited at least ~$460,000. The two players were placed on “non-disciplinary paid leave” (temporary leave with pay, without immediate disciplinary action) in July, after betting control agencies discovered unusual betting activity while they played. Regarding the legal response: Ortiz was arrested at the Boston airport and released on $500,000 bail; are scheduled to appear in Boston federal court the following day. Both men’s attorneys have denied the charges, asserting their clients’ innocence and preparing to defend them in court. If convicted, they could face years in prison (with a maximum combined sentence of around 60+ years) — as well as a possible lifetime ban from MLB, and the case is considered “one of the most serious betting scandals” in American baseball history. Federal officials have described the conduct as a “betrayal” of the trust of fans, the league, and the teams themselves — severely damaging the reputation of professional sports.
Leave a Reply