Published on: December 2, 2025, 01:22h.
Updated on: December 2, 2025, 01:22h.
- Federal judge in the U.S. schedules trial for two Cleveland Guardians pitchers for May
- Both athletes are accused of participating in a gambling scheme
- Prosecutor reports ongoing discussions, but no plea deal discussions yet
Two Major League Baseball (MLB) pitchers facing allegations of influencing games to facilitate $460,000 in prop bets—including pitch types and speeds—are slated for a trial in May, as announced by a U.S. District Court Judge this morning in New York.
Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz from the Cleveland Guardians are facing federal indictments, accused of accepting bribes from gamblers. Jury selection is expected to begin on May 4 in Brooklyn Federal Court, with the trial starting a week or earlier thereafter, according to sources.
The charges against the pitchers include wire fraud conspiracy, conspiracies related to honest services wire fraud, bribery in sports contests, and money laundering, tied to an alleged scheme that manipulated bets on pitches, such as intentionally throwing balls into the dirt during MLB games. Clase and Ortiz are also suspected of profiting from these wagers.
Clase is reportedly accused of providing upfront funds to bettors to support the operation, while Ortiz is said to have entered the scheme around June 2025, allegedly in exchange for bribes and kickbacks.
Bribery and Corruption
In a game on June 27, the indictment claims that Ortiz agreed to manipulate a second pitch for a $7,000 bribe. Clase reportedly received $7,000 for arranging this rigged pitch. Allegedly, Clase provided $15,000 to a co-conspirator to bet on the manipulated in-game pitch, resulting in co-conspirator bettors winning at least $60,000 from fraudulent bets.
“As alleged, the defendants compromised that trust by fixing pitches. In doing so, they robbed the Cleveland Guardians and MLB of their honest services. They defrauded online betting platforms where these wagers were placed,” commented United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Joseph Nocella Jr., during the arrests of the two pitchers last November. “Corruption in sports tarnishes the image of participants and erodes public confidence in an institution integral to our culture.”
Altered Pitches
If found guilty, each pitcher faces severe penalties—up to 20 years in prison for the wire fraud conspiracy charge, an additional 20 years for conspiracy involving honest services wire fraud, five years for conspiracy to influence sports contests via bribery, and another 20 years for conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Both athletes have pleaded not guilty to all charges. Regarding their status within MLB, both players have been placed on non-disciplinary paid leave since last summer.
Ortiz appeared in court on November 10 and was released on a $500,000 bond, subject to travel restrictions and the surrendering of his passport. Clase was in court on November 13 and released on a $600,000 bond under similar conditions.
Spring Training Ahead
During a court session this morning, Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Sherman informed Judge Kiyo Matsumoto that discussions have occurred with the pitchers’ legal teams since their arrests last month; however, no plea deal discussions have taken place thus far. Sherman confirmed the prosecution has begun sharing evidence with the defense in preparation for the trial, including materials retrieved from electronic devices.
Neither the pitchers nor their legal counsel commented to reporters outside the court this morning.
The Guardians are set to start spring training in February, with their new season debut scheduled for March 26 against the Seattle Mariners.
In response to the arrests, MLB has introduced a new policy in collaboration with sportsbooks, implementing a $200 betting limit on micro-betting related to pitches during games and banning such bets from being included in parlay bets.