- U.S. District Court judge sets May trial date for two Cleveland Guardians’ pitchers
- Both pitchers charged for their alleged involvement in a gambling scheme
- Prosecutor says talks taking place but no discussion about a plea deal
Two MLB pitchers accused of manipulating pitches so gamblers could cash in on $460,000 of prop bets (for example pitch speed and type of pitch) are looking at a May trial date, a U.S. District Court Judge said this morning in New York.
Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, both members of the Cleveland Guardians, have both been indicted on federal charges, accused of taking bribes from gamblers. Jury selection could begin May 4 in Brooklyn Federal Court with a trial starting a week or sooner after that, according to reporting.
The pitchers face charges including wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery, and money laundering conspiracy, for their alleged roles in a gambler scheme to rig bets on pitches, including purposefully throwing balls into the dirt during Major League Baseball games. Ortiz and Clase are also accused of having cashed in on these bets.
Clase is alleged to have sometimes provided money to bettors in advance to fund the scheme. Ortiz is said to have joined the scheme around June 2025, in exchange for bribes and kickbacks.
Bribes and Kickbacks
In one game, on June 27, according to the indictment, Ortiz agreed to rig a second pitch by throwing a ball in exchange for a $7,000 bribe. Clase was paid $7,000 for the arranging the rigged pitch, it was alleged. Clase is said to have provided $15,000 to a co-conspirator to wager on the rigged in-game pitch. By rigging that pitch, Ortiz’s co-conspirator bettors won at least $60,000 in fraudulent wagers.
“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,” said United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Joseph Nocella Jr., back in November when the two pitchers were arrested. “And they betrayed America’s pastime. Integrity, honesty and fair play are part of the DNA of professional sports. When corruption infiltrates the sport, it brings disgrace not only to the participants but damages the public trust in an institution that is vital and dear to all of us.”
Pitches in the Dirt
If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment on the wire fraud conspiracy count, 20 years’ imprisonment on the honest services wire fraud conspiracy count, five years’ imprisonment on the conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery count, and 20 years’ imprisonment on the money laundering conspiracy count.
Both men have entered pleas of not guilty to all charges. In terms of their MLB status, both players have been on non-disciplinary paid leave by MLB last summer.
Ortiz appeared in court Nov. 10 and was released on a $500,000 bond with travel restrictions. He also had to give up his passport. Clase appeared in court Nov. 13 and was released on $600,000 with similar restrictions as Ortiz.
Spring Training in February
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Sherman told Judge Kiyo Matsumoto this morning they have been discussions with the pitchers’ attorneys since the arrest last month but there have been no talks of a plea deal to this point. Sherman said the prosecution has already begun providing evidence to the defence in anticipation of a trial, including files pulled from electronic devices.
Neither the pitchers nor their attorneys said anything to reporters outside the New York court this morning.
The Guardians open spring training in February, and start the new season March 26 in Seattle against the Mariners.
MLB has already set a new policy in partnership with sportsbooks in response to the arrests where there will be a $200 wagering limit on micro-betting around pitches during games, as well as prohibiting these types of bets from being included in parlays.
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