In the latest development of a scandal that has rocked Major League Baseball (MLB), Eastern District of New York prosecutors indicted Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis L. Ortiz. The indictment, which was delivered on Sunday, Nov. 9, alleges that the two Guardians players intentionally rigged individual pitches, benefiting gamblers to the tune of over $450,000 over a two-year period. Charged with wire fraud and conspiracy, Clase and Ortiz could each face up to 65 years in prison.
The scandal began on July 3, when Ortiz, previously a relatively unknown starting pitcher for the Guardians, was placed on administrative leave by the league due to an ongoing investigation into gambling activities. This announcement led to reports drawing attention to a pitch Ortiz threw on June 15, 2025 against the Seattle Mariners, which allegedly netted gamblers over $60,000. Ortiz has since remained on leave with MLB.
However, the follow-up announcement on July 28, in which Guardians closer Clase was also placed on leave for gambling activities, drew an even greater reaction. Clase – three-time MLB All-Star and the 2024 MLB Reliever of the Year – who had previously been suspended by MLB for performance enhancing drugs in 2020, has also been accused of deliberately throwing pitches outside of the strike zone, as well as throwing pitches above and below specific velocities.
The first instance of Clase’s alleged fraud took place on May 19, 2023, well before Ortiz, who was supposedly brought into the scheme in 2025. On this date, bettors won $27,000 when Clase threw a pitch faster than 94.95 mph. Later, they won $38,000 when he threw a pitch several feet in front of home plate.
On Nov. 9, 2025, the Eastern District of New York unsealed a 23 page indictment detailing Clase and Ortiz’s offenses, which detailed over 100 bets that gamblers placed on individual pitches by Clase since May 2023. In the indictment, Clase was also accused of bringing Ortiz into the gambling scheme in 2025 after Ortiz joined the Cleveland Guardians.
“As alleged, the defendants sold that trust to gamblers by fixing pitches,” United States Attorney for Eastern New York District Joseph Nocella, Jr. said in a statement. “In doing so, the defendants deprived the Cleveland Guardians and Major League Baseball of their honest services. They defrauded the online betting platforms where the bets were placed. And they betrayed America’s pastime. Integrity, honesty and fair play are part of the DNA of professional sports.”
After the indictment was unsealed, Ortiz was arrested in Boston, MA with an initial court appearance set for Nov. 10, 2025. He was released after posting a $500,000 bond. Clase, who remains outside of the U.S., is not currently in custody.
In spite of the contents of the indictment, both players’ legal defenses are steadfast in proclaiming their innocence.
“[Emmanuel] has devoted his life to baseball and doing everything in his power to help his team win,” Michael J. Ferrara, Clase’s lawyer, said in a statement to ESPN. “Emmanuel is innocent of all charges and looks forward to clearing his name in court.”
Ortiz’s lawyer, Chris Georgalis, has also denied all charges.
“There is no credible evidence Luis knowingly did anything other than try to win games, with every pitch and in every inning,” Georgalis said to ESPN. “Luis looks forward to fighting these charges in court. The government’s case is weak and circumstantial. He will defend himself and he will prevail.”
The gambling plot raises questions regarding micro-bets on online sportsbooks. Micro-bets, or small, rapid-fire wagers on specific actions within a sporting event, such as a single pitch, were at the heart of the Guardians’ scandal. These single-pitch micro-bets, however, became suspiciously large, leading an Ohio licensed sportsbook to report them to MLB in July.
In response to backlash regarding micro-bets, the MLB announced on Nov. 10 that major sportsbooks would institute a $200 cap on wagers centered around pitches.
“I commend the industry for working with us to take action on a national solution to address the risks posed by these pitch-level markets, which are particularly vulnerable to integrity concerns,” MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a press release.
From the outset of both Ortiz and Clase’s administrative leaves from MLB, fans questioned if they would ever pitch again. Now, with lifetime bans from baseball almost certain, a new question has emerged: How much prison time will they face, and will MLB reevaluate its relationship with gambling in light of their actions? The answers may shape baseball and the sports world for years to come.