Guardians pitchers on trial for alleged sports betting fraud scheme
Summarised from 2 outlets · 4 reports · Updated 5 Nov, 23:39 · Archive
Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz face trial on allegations they shared pitch information with gamblers for profit.
Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, pitchers for the Cleveland Guardians, are on trial in Brooklyn federal court on charges of fraud conspiracy. Both have pleaded not guilty and are on non-disciplinary leave from the club without pay.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Urquiola told jurors that Clase befriended a sports betting gambler in the Dominican Republic in early 2023 who shared his interest in dominoes and cockfighting. Clase allegedly agreed to tell the gambler what kinds of pitches he would throw in certain games. Prosecutors said gamblers reaped at least $460,000 on platforms allowing bets on whether a pitch would be a ball or a strike. Clase, 28, is a three-time All-Star and two-time American League Reliever of the Year. Ortiz, 27, was a starting pitcher. Prosecutors allege Clase began providing pitch information in 2023 and recruited Ortiz into the scheme in 2025.
During testimony, former Guardians catcher Bo Naylor, called as a defence witness, said he did not know gamblers could place bets on individual pitches until the case arose. Naylor was shown clips of pitches thrown by Clase and Ortiz and testified that catchers notify pitchers what pitches to throw before each pitch.
How it is being reported
- Ex-Cleveland Guardians catcher Bo Naylor testifies he didn't know gamblers bet on individual pitchesCatcher Bo Naylor, a former teammate of Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, says he didn’t know gamblers could place bets on individual pitches until the criminal case against the pitchers arose.News4Jax · 5 Nov, 23:09
- Ex-Cleveland Guardians catcher Bo Naylor testifies he didn't know gamblers bet on individual pitchesCatcher Bo Naylor, a former teammate of Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, says he didn’t know gamblers could place bets on individual pitches until the criminal case against the pitchers arose.Clickorlando · 5 Nov, 23:09
- Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz described as 'cheaters' at trialJurors have heard opening statements at the fraud conspiracy trial of Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz in a New York federal court.Clickorlando · 4 Nov, 20:04
- Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz described as 'cheaters' at trialJurors have heard opening statements at the fraud conspiracy trial of Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz in a New York federal court.News4Jax · 4 Nov, 20:04
In this story: Emmanuel Clase · Luis Ortiz · Cleveland Guardians · Brooklyn · Dominican Republic · Bo Naylor
This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log
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