Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz have been indicted by the U.S. Department of Justice on charges related to a sports betting and money laundering conspiracy.
The indictment, unsealed Sunday in federal court in Brooklyn, accuses the two players of manipulating game outcomes to benefit illegal bettors. Both pitchers, currently on indefinite administrative leave amid Major League Baseball’s ongoing gambling investigation, face multiple federal charges, including wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery, and money laundering conspiracy. If convicted, they could each face up to 65 years in prison.
According to prosecutors, Clase and Ortiz conspired with gamblers to intentionally throw specific pitches—often balls or low-speed deliveries—to enable their co-conspirators to cash in on prop bets. The scheme allegedly began with Clase in May 2023, with Ortiz joining later that summer. The DOJ says bettors using insider information from the two pitchers earned at least $450,000 in winnings from betting platforms.
In one alleged incident on June 15, prosecutors claim Ortiz was paid $5,000 for throwing an intentional ball, with Clase receiving the same amount for facilitating it. A second event on June 27 allegedly netted both pitchers $7,000. The indictment also includes photos and data showing multiple deliberate misthrows by Clase, including pitches that landed in the dirt or grass before reaching home plate.
Prosecutors say Clase communicated with bettors during games and accepted bribes to “throw specific types of pitches and speeds of pitches.” The U.S. Attorney’s Office alleges his actions helped gamblers win up to $700,000 in total, while Ortiz’s involvement generated about $60,000 in profits for the betting ring.
Ortiz, 25, was arrested Sunday in Boston, while Clase, 27, has not yet been taken into custody. Both players’ leaves from the team, initially scheduled to end on August 31, were extended “until further notice” as the league’s investigation continued. Before being placed on leave, Clase appeared in 48 games this season, recording a 3.23 ERA and a 3.92 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Ortiz made 16 starts, going 4–9 with a 4.36 ERA.
U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. said in a statement: “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. As alleged, the defendants sold that trust to gamblers by fixing pitches… and they betrayed America’s pastime.”
MLB confirmed it had referred the matter to federal authorities early in its internal probe. “MLB contacted federal law enforcement at the outset of its investigation and has fully cooperated throughout the process,” the league said. “We are aware of the indictment and today’s arrest, and our investigation is ongoing.”
The case marks the second major gambling scandal to hit U.S. professional sports this year, following an FBI investigation that led to the arrests of Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups.
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