Cleveland Guardians standout pitcher Emmanuel Clase was apprehended on Thursday at John F. Kennedy Airport on suspicion of receiving payments to assist bettors in winning by manipulating his pitches. Clase, 27, was detained upon his arrival from the Dominican Republic, as reported by the U.S. attorney’s office. The highly decorated athlete is set to make a court appearance in Brooklyn federal court for his initial hearing. Clase’s teammate Luis Ortiz, also linked to the alleged scheme, pleaded not guilty the day before.
Both pitchers have been on paid leave since July when Major League Baseball (MLB) initiated an inquiry into unusual betting patterns during their games. Prosecutors claim that Clase and Ortiz accepted bribes to ensure specific outcomes related to the speed and result of their pitches, enabling gamblers in the Dominican Republic to profit substantially. The accusations state that Clase began sharing pitch information with bettors in 2023, only requesting payment earlier this year.
In a notable incident during a game against the Boston Red Sox, Clase allegedly communicated with a bettor before pitching, resulting in the bettor winning a significant amount on a specific pitch speed bet. Clase purportedly recruited Ortiz into the scheme this year, occasionally providing funds to support the wagers. Clase’s legal representative, Michael Ferrara, has affirmed his client’s innocence, emphasizing Clase’s dedication to baseball and team success.
Both Clase and Ortiz face charges including wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering, and conspiracy to influence sporting events through bribery, with potential penalties of up to 20 years in prison. MLB has responded to the indictments by implementing restrictions on pitch-related betting. These developments add to a series of gambling-related controversies in American professional sports since the legalization of sports betting following a pivotal 2018 Supreme Court ruling. Notably, several individuals, including prominent NBA figures, were recently arrested in connection with a gambling investigation involving insider information and illicit poker games.
