BOSTON — Cleveland Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz appeared in federal court docket Monday on prices accusing him and teammate Emmanuel Clase of taking bribes to assist associates of their native Dominican Republic win prop bets positioned on pitches they threw.
U.S. Justice of the Peace Decide Donald Cabell in Boston granted Ortiz his launch however with a number of situations, together with that he give up his passport, limit his journey to the Northeast and submit a $500,000 bail, $50,000 of it secured. He additionally was ordered to keep away from contact with anybody who might be seen as a sufferer, witness or co-defendant within the case.
Ortiz, wearing a pale inexperienced observe go well with, didn’t say something in court docket. His attorneys declined to talk to reporters after the temporary listening to.
In line with the indictment in opposition to the 2 unsealed Sunday, Ortiz and Clase took a number of thousand {dollars} in payoffs to assist two unnamed gamblers of their dwelling nation win at the very least $460,000 on bets positioned on the velocity and final result of sure pitches, together with some that landed within the filth.
Clase, who was the Guardians’ nearer, and Ortiz, a starter, have been on non-disciplinary paid depart since July, when MLB began investigating what it mentioned was unusually excessive in-game betting exercise when the 2 pitched. A number of the video games in query had been in April, Could and June.
Ortiz, 26, was arrested Sunday by the FBI at Boston Logan Worldwide Airport. Clase, 27, is believed to be exterior the U.S., in accordance with a legislation enforcement official conversant in the matter. The official was not approved to talk publicly concerning the case and did so on situation of anonymity.
Ortiz and Clase “betrayed America’s pastime,” U.S. Legal professional Joseph Nocella Jr. mentioned Sunday. “Integrity, honesty and honest play are a part of the DNA {of professional} sports activities. When corruption infiltrates the game, it brings shame not solely to the members however damages the general public belief in an establishment that’s important and expensive to all of us.”
Ortiz’s lawyer, Chris Georgalis, mentioned in a press release Sunday that his consumer is harmless and “has by no means, and would by no means, improperly affect a sport — not for anybody and never for something.”
Georgalis mentioned Ortiz’s protection staff beforehand documented for prosecutors that the funds and cash transfers between him and people within the Dominican Republic had been for authorized actions.
MLB mentioned it contacted federal legislation enforcement when it started investigating uncommon betting exercise and has totally cooperated with authorities. “We’re conscious of the indictment and as we speak’s arrest, and our investigation is ongoing,” the league mentioned in a press release.
In a press release, the Guardians mentioned: “We’re conscious of the current legislation enforcement motion. We’ll proceed to totally cooperate with each legislation enforcement and Main League Baseball as their investigations proceed.”
Clase and Ortiz are every charged with wire fraud conspiracy, trustworthy providers wire fraud conspiracy, cash laundering conspiracy and conspiracy to affect sporting contests by bribery. The highest prices carry a possible punishment of as much as 20 years in jail.
In a single instance cited within the indictment, Clase allegedly invited a bettor to a sport in opposition to the Boston Pink Sox in April and spoke with him by cellphone simply earlier than taking the mound. 4 minutes later, the indictment mentioned, the bettor and his associates gained $11,000 on a wager that Clase would toss a sure pitch slower than 97.95 mph.
Clase, a three-time All-Star and two-time American League Reliever of the Yr, had a $4.5 million wage in 2025, the fourth season of a $20 million, five-year contract. The three-time AL save chief started offering the bettors with details about his pitches in 2023 however did not ask for payoffs till this yr, prosecutors mentioned.
Prosecutors mentioned Ortiz, who had a $782,600 wage this yr, received in on the scheme in June and is accused of rigging pitches in video games in opposition to the Seattle Mariners and the St. Louis Cardinals.
The fees are the most recent bombshell developments in a federal crackdown on betting in skilled sports activities.
Final month, greater than 30 individuals, together with distinguished basketball figures akin to Portland Path Blazers head coach and Basketball Corridor of Famer Chauncey Billups and Miami Warmth guard Terry Rozier, had been arrested in a playing sweep that rocked the NBA.