Published on: January 13, 2026, 09:11h.
Updated on: January 13, 2026, 09:41h.
- Legal filings suggest Emmanuel Clase and a gambler discussed cockfighting, not MLB pitching.
- Upcoming gambling trial involving pitchers from the Cleveland Guardians set for May.
- Cockfighting, a legal and immensely favored activity, thrives in Clase’s native Dominican Republic.
The investigation into whether Cleveland Guardians’ relief pitcher Emmanuel Clase engaged with gamblers to distort his pitching performances and relay that information to sports bettors—resulting in substantial gambling wins—has taken an unexpected twist.
As reported by the New York Times, a gambler linked to the case claimed that text exchanges with Clase were not about pitching strategies; instead, they pertained to gambling on cockfighting in the Dominican Republic, Clase’s homeland.
Cockfighting Arena
Cockfighting, or “pelea de gallos,” involves specially bred roosters engaged in combat and is not only legal but deeply ingrained in the Dominican culture, with roots going back centuries. Heavy betting accompanies these events, taking place in dedicated fighting venues.
Federal authorities assert that Clase was involved in discussions about his pitching performances with gamblers over two years, reportedly leading to winnings in the hundreds of thousands for bettors involved in this illicit scheme.
The Perils of Microbetting
According to the Times report that references court documents, one gambler revealed that Clase purportedly operated a cockfighting venture in his home nation. This gambler’s identity remains undisclosed in filings from lawyers representing both Clase and fellow Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz, who also faces allegations of manipulating his pitching for gambling profits.
Prosecutors allege that the two pitchers compromised the integrity of baseball. The defense contends that the messages were misinterpreted, wrongly assumed as gambling codes. The gambler maintains that no discussions regarding pitches took place with Clase.
The trial is scheduled for May.
Charges of Wire Fraud
This trial is highlighting the rise of prop and micro bets in sports wagering, along with the inherent risks they present. Microbetting hones in on minute details of a player’s performance, such as betting on specific pitches made by a pitcher during an MLB game.
Both pitchers face serious charges, including wire fraud, conspiracy to influence sports contests through bribery, and money laundering for their supposed roles in rigging bets concerning pitches, which included deliberately throwing balls into the dirt during games. They are also accused of profiting from these wagers.
New Policy by MLB
The Times outlines that when Clase instructed the gambler to send a portion of the earnings from a bet regarding the speed of one of his pitches in an MLB game back to the Dominican Republic, the gambler indicated those funds were meant for the cockfighting operation.
A statement from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York revealed that Clase allegedly withdrew $50,000 in cash and gave $15,000 to a co-conspirator before a June 27, 2025, MLB game. This co-conspirator allegedly wagered on a predetermined pitch by Ortiz in that game, generating at least $60,000 in fraudulent winnings for bettors.
In response to these incidents, MLB has implemented a new policy in collaboration with sportsbooks, establishing a $200 limit on microbetting related to pitches during games and prohibiting these bets from being included in parlay wagers.
Manipulated Pitches for Payment
If found guilty, both Clase and Ortiz could face severe penalties, including up to 20 years in prison for the wire fraud conspiracy charge, 20 years for the honest services wire fraud conspiracy charge, five years for conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery, and an additional 20 years for the money laundering conspiracy charge.
Currently, neither Clase nor Ortiz has faced suspension from MLB, with both players on paid leave until further directives are issued.