Guardians Pitchers Clase and Ortiz Plead Not Guilty as Fraud Trial Likely Delayed
The prospects for a spring fraud trial involving two Cleveland Guardians pitchers accused of colluding with sports bettors to rig wagers are fading rapidly. This development comes as their teammates commence spring training for the new season, creating a stark contrast between on-field preparations and off-field legal battles.
Court Proceedings and Likely Postponement
Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz appeared in Brooklyn federal court on Wednesday, where they entered not guilty pleas through a translator to a rewritten indictment. Federal Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto indicated that a scheduled May trial will probably be postponed until October, though a May 4 date remains tentatively on the books for now.
The pitchers, along with a third individual charged as a middleman between bettors and Clase, all pleaded not guilty. The superseding indictment unsealed on Friday did not introduce new charges but added detailed allegations regarding Clase's communications with gamblers.
Allegations of Code Words and Betting Schemes
According to court documents, Clase allegedly used code words like "rooster" and "chicken" in communications about pitches to be thrown. Prior to a May 18, 2025 game against the Cincinnati Reds, Clase reportedly received a message instructing him to "throw a rock at the first rooster in today's fight" and responded: "Yes, of course, that's an easy toss to that rooster."
Although Clase never entered that particular game, prosecutors allege he broke Major League Baseball rules by using his cellphone during a game against the Reds the previous day. This action allegedly signaled to gamblers that a pitch would be outside the strike zone, enabling them to win approximately $27,000.
Original Charges and Financial Details
The pitchers were initially charged in November with accepting several thousand dollars in payoffs to help two gamblers from their native Dominican Republic win at least $460,000. This was allegedly accomplished through more than 100 in-game prop bets and parlays on pitch speed and outcomes. Charges include wire fraud conspiracy and conspiracy to influence sporting contests.
Clase, a three-time All-Star and former closer, earned a $4.5 million salary in 2025 as part of a $20 million, five-year contract. Prosecutors claim he began providing bettors with information about his pitches in 2023 but did not seek payoffs until last year. Ortiz, a starter with a $782,600 salary last season, allegedly joined the scheme in June.
Defense Strategies and Team Status
Lawyers for both pitchers have insisted their clients never colluded with gamblers. Ortiz's legal team has requested a separate trial, arguing that if Clase passed along Ortiz's pitching strategy to gamblers, he did so without Ortiz's knowledge. They noted Ortiz is accused of throwing only two suspicious pitches over a 12-day span, while Clase faces allegations of collusion on numerous pitches since 2023.
Ortiz's lawyers suggested they might present a defense portraying "Ortiz as a victim of Mr. Clase's scheme, rather than a knowing and willing participant." They claimed Clase may have abused their friendship by convincing Ortiz to throw certain pitches for what appeared to be legitimate baseball reasons.
Both pitchers have been on non-disciplinary paid leave since July, while their teammates begin training camp for the new season with a home opener scheduled for April 3. Clase and Ortiz, free on bail, left the courthouse separately after Wednesday's hearing without commenting.
League Cooperation and Investigation
The Cleveland Guardians and Major League Baseball have stated they are fully cooperating with the investigation. MLB officials confirmed they contacted federal law enforcement when they first detected unusual betting activity related to the case. The league maintains strict policies against gambling involvement by players and personnel.
As the legal process unfolds with likely delays, the baseball community watches closely how this case will impact the Guardians' season and broader conversations about integrity in professional sports betting environments.
