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Cleveland Guardians pitchers face fraud trial in New York
A federal criminal fraud trial has begun in Brooklyn for former Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz. Prosecutors allege the two players accepted bribes to manipulate individual pitches to benefit sports gamblers.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Urquiola told a jury that Clase began providing information about his pitches to bettors in the Dominican Republic in early 2023. Prosecutors claim Clase eventually recruited Ortiz into the scheme in 2025. The alleged manipulation allowed gamblers to profit from bets on specific outcomes, such as pitch speed and whether a pitch would be a ball or a strike.
According to the indictment, bettors won at least $450,000 to $460,000 on wagers tied to the players' pitches. In one instance, bettors reportedly won approximately $27,000 by wagering that a Clase pitch would exceed 94.95 mph.
Clase and Ortiz have pleaded not guilty to conspiracy charges, which include conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering, and influencing sporting contests through bribery. If convicted, they could face up to 65 years in prison. Both players are currently on non-disciplinary leave from the Guardians without pay.
Entities
Brooklyn · Brooklyn Federal Court · Cleveland Guardians · Emmanuel Clase · Los Angeles Dodgers · Luis Ortiz · Rebecca Urquiola
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 4 SOURCES] The defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges. www.reviewonline.com · www.losmocanos.com · santiago30caballeross.blogspot.com · www.gamblingnews.com
- [● 7 SOURCES] Clase allegedly began providing pitch information to bettors in 2023. www.reviewonline.com · www.losmocanos.com · santiago30caballeross.blogspot.com · eldia.com.do · www.whec.com · +2 more
- [● 7 SOURCES] Clase and Ortiz are currently on non-disciplinary leave without pay from the Cleveland Guardians. www.reviewonline.com · www.losmocanos.com · santiago30caballeross.blogspot.com · www.gamblingnews.com · www.whec.com · +2 more
- [● 9 SOURCES] Bettors allegedly won at least $450,000 to $460,000 through the scheme. www.reviewonline.com · www.losmocanos.com · santiago30caballeross.blogspot.com · alienwp.com · www.gamblingnews.com · +4 more
- [● 2 SOURCES] Bettors reportedly won about $27,000 on a single pitch by Clase that exceeded 94.95 mph. alienwp.com · www.gamblingnews.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz are facing federal conspiracy and fraud charges. www.reviewonline.com · alienwp.com · www.gamblingnews.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] If convicted, the pitchers could face up to 65 years in prison. alienwp.com · www.gamblingnews.com
- [● 8 SOURCES] Clase allegedly recruited Ortiz into the scheme in 2025. www.reviewonline.com · www.losmocanos.com · santiago30caballeross.blogspot.com · eldia.com.do · www.gamblingnews.com · +3 more