Emmanuel Clase, Luis Ortiz

By Joe Lombardi From Daily Voice

Two Major League Baseball pitchers have been indicted on federal charges for their alleged roles in a scheme to rig bets on pitches during Major League Baseball games, according to the US Department of Justice for the Eastern District of New York. 

The indictment, unsealed Sunday, Nov. 9, at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, charges the players, Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz of the Cleveland Guardians, with wire fraud conspiracy and honest services wire fraud conspiracy. It also includes charges of conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery and money laundering conspiracy.

Ortiz, 26, was arrested earlier Sunday in Boston and is set to appear in federal court in Boston on Monday, Nov. 10. He will be arraigned in Brooklyn at a later date. Clase, 27, is not in custody.

According to the indictment, both pitchers allegedly conspired with corrupt sports bettors to manipulate specific pitches in MLB games, allowing the bettors to place fraudulent wagers worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Ortiz and Clase are both Dominican Republic natives and key players for the Cleveland Guardians. MLB placed both players on administrative leave earlier this year as the investigation unfolded.

“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,” said US Attorney Joseph Nocella, Jr. “As alleged, the defendants sold that trust to gamblers by fixing pitches. They defrauded the online betting platforms where the bets were placed and betrayed America’s pastime."

Investigators allege that the scheme began in May 2023, when Clase, a relief pitcher, agreed to rig "prop" bets on his pitches. Bettors wagered on the speed and type of his pitches, based on insider information Clase provided in advance, according to the DOJ.

The indictment alleges that Clase threw rigged pitches in multiple games, including one against the New York Mets, sometimes throwing pitches in the dirt to ensure they were called as balls. In exchange, Clase reportedly received bribes and kickbacks.

Ortiz, a starting pitcher, joined the scheme in June 2025, accordinng to prosecutors. On June 15, Ortiz allegedly agreed to throw a ball on a specific pitch in exchange for a $5,000 bribe, with Clase receiving an additional $5,000 for arranging the deal.

On Friday, June 27, Ortiz agreed to rig another pitch in exchange for a $7,000 bribe, while Clase received the same amount for coordinating, the DOJ stated.

Before the June 27 game, prosecutors say Clase withdrew $50,000 in cash and gave $15,000 to a co-conspirator to fund wagers on Ortiz’s rigged pitch. The indictment states that Ortiz’s rigged pitches caused bettors to win at least $60,000, while Clase’s actions generated $400,000 in fraudulent winnings.

FBI Assistant Director Christopher Raia said, “The defendants’ alleged greed not only established an unfair advantage for select bettors but also sullied the reputation of America’s pastime. The FBI will ensure any individual who exploits their position as a professional athlete at the expense of others strikes out."

If convicted, the defendants face up to 20 years in prison for each of the most serious charges. 

The league has stated it is cooperating fully with federal authorities.