According to an indictment unsealed Sunday in federal court in Brooklyn, pitchers Clase and Ortiz allegedly assisted bettors from their native Dominican Republic in winning in-game prop bets by manipulating their pitches. The indictment claims the two deliberately threw certain pitches slower and down in the dirt, well out of the strike zone, to help bettors cash in on wagers related to pitch speed and outcomes.
Both pitchers have been on non-disciplinary paid leave since July while Major League Baseball (MLB) investigated what it described as unusually high in-game betting activity during their outings.
Ortiz, 26, was arrested by the FBI on Sunday at Boston Logan International Airport. He is expected to appear in federal court in Boston on Monday. Clase, 27, is not yet in custody, according to authorities.
A lawyer for Ortiz declined to comment when contacted by The Associated Press, while a lawyer for Clase did not immediately return messages seeking comment.
Clase and Ortiz are both charged with wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery, and money laundering conspiracy. The most serious charges carry potential penalties of up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
These charges mark the latest bombshell in a widening federal crackdown on betting within professional sports. Although betting scandals have long been a concern for sports leagues, a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in May 2018 paved the way for a spike in gambling incidents involving athletes and officials. The ruling overturned a federal law that barred sports betting in most states, allowing online sportsbooks to rise in prominence.
Just last month, more than 30 people—including high-profile basketball figures such as Portland Trail Blazers head coach and Basketball Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups, and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier—were arrested in a gambling sweep that shook the NBA.
Major League Baseball stated it contacted federal law enforcement upon investigating the unusual betting activity and “has fully cooperated” with authorities. “We are aware of the indictment and today’s arrest, and our investigation is ongoing,” the league said in a statement.
In a statement of their own, the Cleveland Guardians said: “We are aware of the recent law enforcement action. We will continue to fully cooperate with both law enforcement and Major League Baseball as their investigations continue.”
https://fortune.com/2025/11/09/emmanuel-clase-luis-ortiz-mlb-sports-betting-bribes-pitches-in-game-prop-bets/
