MLB gambling scandal updates: Latest news on Emmanuel Clase, Luis Ortiz arrests in connection to rigged pitch bets originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Major League Baseball is the latest sport to have a gambling scandal.
Advertisement
On Nov. 9, Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz were indicted by prosecutors for their roles in an illegal pitch-rigging scheme. Both Clase and Ortiz had been on paid leave from the Guardians since the summer as they were investigated. As of No. 13, both former pitchers are in federal custody.
The situation is ongoing, but Clase and Ortiz will now be up against the legal process. Here is the latest on MLB’s gambling scandal.
MORE: Biggest gambling scandals in sports history
MLB gambling scandal arrest updatesEmmanuel Clase
On Nov. 9, Guardians pitcher Emmanuel Clase was indicted by federal prosecutors for his role in an illegal pitch-rigging scheme. At the time of Jeff Passan’s initial report, Clase was not in custody. Clase has been on MLB’s non-disciplinary paid leave list since July 28, and hasn’t pitched in an MLB game since.
Advertisement
According to Passan, the indictment claims that Clase has been a part of this scheme since May of 2023, which involved him throwing intentional balls to win wagers. Additionally, Clase is also accused of facilitating part of the scheme.
Clase’s attorney, Michael Ferrara, released a statement saying, “Emmanuel Clase has devoted his life to baseball and doing everything in his power to help his team win. Emmanuel is innocent of all charges and looks forward to clearing his name in court.”
On the morning of Nov. 13, Clase arrived at JFK Airport from the Dominican Republic and was arrested by FBI agents, David Payne Purdum reported. Clase was then scheduled to be arraigned that afternoon.
Luis Ortiz
Federal prosecutors arrested Luis Ortiz in Boston on Sunday morning for his role in the illegal pitch-rigging scheme. Ortiz was first put on MLB’s non-disciplinary paid leave list in early July, as he was investigated before Clase.
Both Ortiz and Clase are facing up to 65 years in prison.
Ortiz’s attorney, Chris Georgalis, said in a statement to ESPN that Ortiz is “innocent of the charges related to two pitches he threw,” adding that “he has always given his best effort in every inning of every game.”
Advertisement
“He has never, and would never, improperly influence a game—not for anyone and not for anything,” Georgalis wrote. “There is no credible evidence Luis did anything other than try to win games, with every pitch and in every inning. Luis looks forward to fighting these charges in court.”
Emmanuel Clase-Luis Ortiz pitching scandalWhat did Emmanuel Clase, Luis Ortiz do?
A federal indictment argues that Clase and Ortiz were part of a scheme that rigged pitches in MLB games to win wagers. The pitchers would throw balls intentionally, allowing those to correctly bet on whether a pitch would be a ball or a strike.
Advertisement
According to Jeff Passan, Ortiz was paid $5,000 for throwing a ball in a June 15 game, while Clase was paid $5,000 for facilitating the scheme. Those two were then paid $7,000 for a similar situation on June 27.
Pablo Torre reports that multiple bettors, including the two defendants, placed over a hundred fraudulent bets and parlays on Clase’s pitches. Overall, the indictment claims that bettors won over $400,000 from betting platforms on Clase’s pitches.
A report from The Athletic further detailed the allegations against Clase and Ortiz, revealing that Clase made a call during a game, shortly before “a group of bettors won about $11,000 by wagering that a particular pitch by Clase would register at slower than 97.95 mph.”
Advertisement
Clase allegedly threw intentional sliders in the dirt over a period of two years so a group of bettors could benefit from wagering on both the speed and the result of the pitch.
In one instance, Clase allegedly intended to throw a ball but got Dodgers OF Andy Pages to swing for a strike. Less than an hour later, texts reveal Clase and another individual commiserated despite the Guardians winning the game.
The indictment alleges Clase even sent money for others to bet on his own pitches in some cases and recruited Ortiz to join the scheme in June of 2025.
As a result of this case, major U.S. sportsbooks are limiting these kinds of single-pitch bets to a $200 maximum, and they are not allowed to be used in parlays.
Did Emmanuel Clase, Luis Ortiz bet on MLB games?
According to the initial indictment, Clase and Ortiz didn’t bet on games themselves, but they were paid to rig micro-bets within games. The pitchers would throw intentional balls that allowed others to successfully bet on whether a pitch would be a ball or a strike.
Advertisement
Has MLB banished Emmanuel Clase, Luis Ortiz?
MLB put both Clase and Ortiz on non-disciplinary paid leave as they were being investigated for their roles in the schemes.
“MLB contacted federal law enforcement at the outset of its investigation and has fully cooperated throughout the process,” MLB said in a statement. “We are aware of the indictment and today’s arrest, and our investigation is ongoing.”
Per The Athletic, the league prefers to discipline Clase and Ortiz before the start of spring training, though the timeline of their legal cases could affect those plans. If and when the two are suspended, the Guardians would no longer have to pay their 2026 salaries.
Advertisement
Emmanuel Clase net worth
Clase is currently playing on a five-year, $20 million with the Guardians that includes two club options through 2028. According to Spotrac, he has made over $15 million in his career.
Luis Ortiz net worth
Ortiz has made just over $2 million in his career, according to Spotrac. He has only played in MLB since 2024 and has just over two years of MLB service time.