started · updated
Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz face trial for alleged pitch-rigging scheme
Jury selection began Monday in a Brooklyn federal court for the trial of former Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz. The Dominican players are accused of accepting bribes to manipulate specific pitches, allowing gamblers to win hundreds of thousands of dollars through in-game prop bets.
Prosecutors allege that Clase began providing information regarding pitch speed and type to bettors in 2023 and later recruited Ortiz into the scheme in 2025. The indictment claims the duo helped gamblers from the Dominican Republic win at least $460,000. Specific allegations include Clase throwing pitches far outside the strike zone to ensure they were called balls.
Both players have pleaded not guilty to charges including wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, and conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery. If convicted, they could face up to 65 years in prison. Defense lawyers are expected to argue that the pitchers were simply using strategic pitch placement to deceive batters.
Witnesses expected to testify include Cleveland Guardians executives, coaches, and several professional baseball players, including catchers Austin Hedges, Mike Zunino, and Bo Naylor. The trial is expected to last approximately one month.
Entities
Brooklyn Federal Court · Cleveland Guardians · Emmanuel Clase · Kiyo A. Matsumoto · Luis Ortiz · Major League Baseball · Mike Chernoff
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 9 SOURCES] The players are charged with wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering, and bribery. www.newsday.com · toronto.citynews.ca · wtop.com · bleacherreport.com · www.thealpenanews.com · +3 more
- [● 13 SOURCES] The pitchers are accused of accepting bribes to manipulate pitches for gamblers. elveedordigital.com · www.newsday.com · toronto.citynews.ca · wtop.com · bleacherreport.com · +8 more
- [● 13 SOURCES] Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz are facing trial in Brooklyn federal court. elveedordigital.com · www.newsday.com · toronto.citynews.ca · wtop.com · bleacherreport.com · +7 more
- [● 11 SOURCES] Clase and Ortiz have pleaded not guilty to conspiracy charges. elveedordigital.com · www.newsday.com · toronto.citynews.ca · wtop.com · bleacherreport.com · +5 more
- [● 12 SOURCES] Clase allegedly began providing information to bettors in 2023. elveedordigital.com · www.newsday.com · toronto.citynews.ca · wtop.com · bleacherreport.com · +7 more
- [● 12 SOURCES] Gamblers allegedly won at least $460,000 using information from the pitchers. www.newsday.com · toronto.citynews.ca · wtop.com · bleacherreport.com · www.thealpenanews.com · +7 more
- [● 12 SOURCES] Ortiz allegedly joined the scheme in 2025. elveedordigital.com · www.newsday.com · toronto.citynews.ca · wtop.com · bleacherreport.com · +7 more
- [● 6 SOURCES] Defense lawyers argue the players were varying pitch placement strategically to fool batters. www.newsday.com · toronto.citynews.ca · wtop.com · bleacherreport.com · www.thealpenanews.com · +1 more