Baseball Stars Accused in Betting Corruption Scandal
Two Major League Baseball pitchers, Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, have been formally indicted on serious criminal charges for their alleged involvement in a sports bribery scheme designed to defraud bookmakers. The pair, both from the Cleveland Guardians, are accused of accepting bribes to provide sports bettors with confidential information about the types of pitches they would throw during games.
The Charges and Allegations
According to federal indictments unsealed on Sunday, 09 November 2025, the players' illicit activities went beyond mere information sharing. It is alleged they intentionally threw balls instead of strikes to ensure that specific bets placed by their associates were successful. The 27-year-old Clase and 26-year-old Ortiz now face multiple conspiracy charges, including wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery, and money laundering conspiracy.
The most severe charges carry a potential maximum prison sentence of up to 20 years upon conviction. The investigation began after Major League Baseball detected unusually high in-game betting activity linked to their appearances on the mound, prompting the league to place both players on paid, non-disciplinary leave back in July.
Arrests and Ongoing Investigations
The Federal Bureau of Investigation took Luis Ortiz into custody on Sunday morning at Boston Logan International Airport. He is scheduled for an initial appearance in a federal court in Boston on Monday. A lawyer representing Ortiz declined to comment when approached by The Associated Press, while a lawyer for Emmanuel Clase did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
In an official statement, Major League Baseball confirmed it had contacted federal law enforcement upon discovering the suspicious betting patterns and has "fully cooperated" with the ensuing probe. The league stated, "We are aware of the indictment and today’s arrest, and our investigation is ongoing." The Cleveland Guardians organisation also issued a response, acknowledging the law enforcement action and pledging continued cooperation with both authorities and the MLB.
