TLDR
- The federal trial of former Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz began Monday in Brooklyn.
- Prosecutors cite 18 Clase pitches from 2023 to 2025 that they say were altered for gamblers.
- Bettors allegedly won about $27,000 on one pitch thrown faster than 94.95 mph.
- The indictment says bettors won at least $450,000 on pitches from both players.
- Each player faces four conspiracy charges and up to 65 years in prison if convicted.
The federal trial of former Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz began Monday in Brooklyn. Prosecutors allege the two players took bribes to change individual pitches so certain gamblers could win bets.
The case focuses on single pitches rather than the outcome of full games. Prosecutors claim the scheme let gambling associates profit from bets on pitch speed, location and other specific outcomes.
The trial will decide whether the pitchers deliberately changed their play to affect betting results. Neither man has been convicted of any crime.
The Pitches at the Center of the Case
The government’s case cites 18 pitches thrown by Clase between 2023 and 2025. Prosecutors say he shared his plans ahead of time with people connected to a gambling group.
That information allegedly told bettors where a pitch would go and how fast it would be. They could then place wagers with that knowledge in hand.
In one example, bettors reportedly won about $27,000. Their wager was that a specific Clase pitch would go faster than 94.95 mph.
Pitch speed bets ask whether one pitch will land above or below a set number. With a line of 94.95 mph, a pitch clocked at 95 mph or faster would win the “over” bet.
Investigators say Clase brought Ortiz into the scheme in 2025. According to the indictment, bettors won at least $450,000 on wagers tied to pitches from the two players.
Not every bet paid off. Prosecutors say one wager lost after Los Angeles Dodgers player Andy Page swung at a pitch in the dirt.
Prosecutors also point to messages between the gamblers and the players. They claim the group used coded language to signal how the next pitch should be thrown.
A phone in the bullpen during one game also drew the attention of investigators. Prosecutors say it allowed gamblers to know what kind of pitch was coming.
Charges and Possible Prison Time
Prosecutors say the gamblers were based in the Dominican Republic. The alleged operation earned hundreds of thousands of dollars for the bettors, while the pitchers were paid for altering their plays.
Clase and Ortiz each face four charges. These are conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and conspiracy to influence sporting contests through bribery.
All four counts are conspiracy charges. That means prosecutors must show the players agreed with others to carry out the scheme.
If convicted on all counts, the two pitchers could face up to 65 years in prison. Both players have been away from the field during the investigation.
The bets in question were tied to real-time wagering, which lets fans bet on small details during a game. These bets can be settled on a single play, such as the speed of one pitch.
Both men are currently out on bail. The trial continues in federal court in Brooklyn, where jurors will review the government’s evidence pitch by pitch.
