Guardians pitchers face trial over alleged pitch-rigging gambling scheme

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 4 Nov, 22:40 · Archive

Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz are on trial for allegedly providing pitch information to sports bettors.

Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz faced opening statements at a federal fraud trial in Brooklyn on Wednesday. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Urquiola described them as 'cheaters' who 'sold their pitches.' She told the jury that Clase befriended a sports betting gambler in the Dominican Republic in early 2023 who shared interests in dominoes and cockfighting. Clase eventually agreed to tell the gambler what kinds of pitches he would throw in certain games, enabling bettors to profit at least $460,000 on platforms allowing customers to bet 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, earned $782,600 as a starting pitcher for the Guardians during the 2025 season. Prosecutors said Clase began providing information in 2023 and recruited Ortiz into the scheme in 2025. Both men were arrested in November 2025 and have been free on bail since.

Defence lawyers argued that a gambler who befriended Clase falsely claimed to other bettors that the pitcher was providing inside information and tried to sell them the information. They characterised the gambler, Enoc Pena, as someone with a history of lying who 'saw a mark' rather than a friend in Clase. Both pitchers have pleaded not guilty to conspiracy charges and remain on non-disciplinary leave from the club without pay.

How it is being reported

• Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz called 'cheaters' as gambling case opening statements begin in courtA federal attorney called Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz "cheaters" who "sold their pitches" as the Cleveland Guardians gambling case went to trial.Fox News · 4 Nov, 21:20
• 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 courtIndependent World · 4 Nov, 20:04

In this story: Emmanuel Clase · Luis Ortiz · Cleveland Guardians · Brooklyn · Dominican Republic

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