MLB Pitchers Indicted for Pitch Rigging

Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz have been indicted on charges including wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery, and money laundering conspiracy. They are accused of taking bribes from sports bettors, primarily from their native Dominican Republic, to intentionally throw certain types of pitches, such as balls instead of strikes or slower pitches, to ensure successful in-game prop bets. The alleged scheme involving Emmanuel Clase began as early as May 2023, with Luis Ortiz joining in June 2025. The United States — United States Department of Justice, through the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York, unsealed the indictment, with U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. emphasizing the betrayal of public trust and America's pastime. Luis Ortiz was arrested by the United States — Federal Bureau of Investigation at Boston Logan International Airport, while Emmanuel Clase is not yet in custody. Both players face potential prison sentences of up to 65 years if convicted on all charges and possible lifetime bans from Major League Baseball. Major League Baseball and the Cleveland Guardians have stated their full cooperation with the ongoing investigations. This event is part of a broader federal crackdown on betting in professional sports, following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 2018 that legalized sports betting in many states, and comes after a recent gambling sweep in the National Basketball Association involving figures like Terry Rozier and Chauncey Billups.