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3 clusters · 32 sources · 6 days · First seen · Last updated

MLB pitch-fixing federal trial

Overview

The federal trial of former Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz commenced on November 1, 2026, in a Brooklyn court. The Dominican players face charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy to influence sporting competitions through bribery.

Prosecutors allege the duo accepted payoffs to manipulate pitch speed and location to benefit gamblers, particularly in the Dominican Republic. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Urquiola told a jury that Clase began providing information about his pitches to bettors in early 2023, eventually recruiting Ortiz into the scheme in 2025. The indictment claims the scheme allowed bettors to win at least $450,000 to $460,000 on in-game prop bets, such as whether a pitch would be a ball or a strike.

Specifically, investigators cited 18 pitches thrown by Clase between 2023 and 2025 that were allegedly manipulated. In one instance, bettors reportedly won approximately $27,000 by wagering that a pitch would exceed 94.95 mph.

Clase and Ortiz have pleaded not guilty and are currently out on bail. Both players are also on non-disciplinary leave from the Guardians without pay. Defense attorneys are expected to argue that the players were merely using strategic pitch placement to deceive batters rather than colluding with gamblers. If convicted, the players could face up to 65 years in prison. The trial is expected to last approximately one month.

Entities

Emmanuel Clase · Luis Ortiz · Brooklyn Federal Court · Cleveland Guardians · Major League Baseball

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

Timeline

  1. [SPORTS] 13 sources
    Cleveland Guardians pitchers face fraud trial in New York

    Former Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz face a federal trial in Brooklyn for allegedly accepting bribes to manipulate pitches for sports gamblers.

  2. [SPORTS] 17 sources
    Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz face trial for alleged pitch-rigging scheme

    Former Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz are on trial in Brooklyn for allegedly accepting bribes to manipulate pitches for gamblers, a scheme that reportedly netted bettors over $450,00

  3. [SPORTS] 9 sources
    MLB faces potential lockout and federal trial for pitch-fixing

    MLB faces a federal trial for pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz over alleged pitch-fixing, alongside a looming labor lockout due to disputes over a proposed salary cap.

Sources

24-ore.com · alienwp.com · bangordailynews.com · baseballrumors.me · bleacherreport.com · conexion23.com · diariolibre.com · eldia.com.do · elinformadorve.com · elinformante.com.do · elnacional.com.do · elveedordigital.com · gamblingnews.com · independent.co.uk · jewishpostandnews.ca · lan103fm.com · losmocanos.com · montecristi24horas.com · newsday.com · nypost.com · pasoapaso.com.do · post-journal.com · reviewonline.com · santiago30caballeros.com · sports.ettoday.net · tele1.com.tr · thealpenanews.com · toronto.citynews.ca · tribtoday.com · tvn-2.com · whec.com · wtop.com

This summary has been updated 4 times: see revision history