Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz each face up to 65 years in prison for allegedly rigging pitches so bettors could win hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Cleveland Guardians pitchers Clase and Ortiz were indicted Sunday by the US Attorney’s Office of the Eastern District of New York. Ortiz was arrested in Boston and will make an initial appearance in court today while Clase is not currently in custody.
“As alleged, the defendants sold that trust to gamblers by fixing pitches,” US Attorney Joseph Nocella, Jr., said. “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. When corruption infiltrates the sport, it brings disgrace not only to the participants but damages the public trust in an institution that is vital and dear to all of us. [Sunday]’s charges make clear that our Office will continue to vigorously prosecute those who corrupt sports through illegal means.”
Pitches compensated for alleged throws
Clase allegedly began with the rigged pitches first in May 2023. He informed his sports betting co-conspirators in advance – sometimes during games – of the pitches he intended to throw as balls, usually the first pitch of an at-bat. That allowed the bettors to place a bet on the first throw of Clase’s outing.
Many of those pitches were in the dirt and well outside of the strike zone to “ensure certain pitches were called as balls,” according to the indictment.
Clase allegedly provided cash to the bettors sometimes to fund the scheme.
The co-conspirator bettors won at least $400,000 in fraudulent bets.
Ortiz joined this summer
Starting pitcher Ortiz got in on the betting scheme around June 2025. The two allegedly agreed in advance to throw balls on pitches in two games in exchange for compensation.
Bettors paid the two $5,000 each for Ortiz throwing a ball on a specific pitch in a June 15 game. Ortiz was paid for the pitch while Clase was paid for arranging the pitch.
The two were compensated again for a ball thrown on a specific pitch on June 27. Both received $7,000 this time for the same arrangement. Before the game, Clase withdrew $50,000 in cash and gave $15,000 to the bettors.
Bettors won at least $60,000 betting on the two pitches.
Charges for Guardians pitchers
Both Clase and Ortiz face more than six decades in prison for four charges:
- Wire fraud conspiracy, up to 20 years
- Honest services wire fraud conspiracy, up to 20 years
- Conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery, up to five years
- Money laundering conspiracy, up to 20 years
