BOSTON (AP) – Luis Ortiz, a pitcher for the Cleveland Guardians, appeared in federal court on Monday facing serious charges related to a bribery scheme aimed at influencing betting outcomes on his pitches. Alongside his teammate Emmanuel Clase, Ortiz is accused of accepting bribes to assist associates in their native Dominican Republic in winning prop bets placed on specific pitches they threw.
During the hearing, U.S. Magistrate Judge Donald Cabell in Boston granted Ortiz conditional release. He is required to surrender his passport, restrict his travel to the Northeast, and post a $500,000 bond, of which $50,000 must be secured. Additionally, Ortiz was instructed to avoid contact with anyone regarded as a victim, witness, or co-defendant concerning the case.
Ortiz, appearing in court wearing a pale green track suit, chose not to speak. Following the hearing, his lawyers declined to provide comments to reporters. Shortly after, Major League Baseball (MLB) announced new restrictions on betting on individual pitches, stating that wagers would be capped at $200 and excluded from parlay bets.
The indictment unsealed on Sunday details how Ortiz and Clase received substantial payoffs to aid two unnamed gamblers in the Dominican Republic, allowing them to win at least $460,000 on bets regarding the speed and results of specific pitches, including those that ended up in the dirt.
Since July, Clase, who serves as the Guardians' closer, and Ortiz, a starting pitcher, have been on non-disciplinary paid leave as MLB investigates unusual betting activity linked to their appearances on the mound. This inquiry focuses on games played in April, May, and June.
On Sunday, Ortiz was arrested by the FBI at Boston Logan International Airport, while Class is believed to be outside the United States. A law enforcement official, speaking anonymously due to non-disclosure guidelines, confirmed this detail.
U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. expressed strong disapproval, stating that Ortiz and Clase "betrayed America’s pastime." He emphasized that integrity and fair play are essential to professional sports, and that corruption undermines public trust in these institutions.
Ortiz’s attorney, Chris Georgalis, stated in a press release that his client is innocent and has never attempted to improperly influence a game. Georgalis asserted that the financial transactions between Ortiz and individuals in the Dominican Republic were for legitimate purposes.
MLB revealed that it contacted federal authorities upon noticing the unusual betting patterns and has been fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation. The league stated, “We are aware of the indictment and today’s arrest, and our investigation is ongoing.”
In a public statement, the Guardians said, "We are aware of the recent law enforcement action. We will continue to fully cooperate with both law enforcement and Major League Baseball as their investigations continue."
Ortiz and Clase are facing multiple charges, including wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, and conspiracy to influence sporting contests through bribery. The most serious charges carry a potential punishment of up to 20 years in prison.
One notable case cited in the indictment shows that Clase allegedly invited a bettor to a game against the Boston Red Sox in April and spoke with them just before taking the mound. Shortly afterward, the bettor reportedly won $11,000 on a wager predicting that Clase would throw a specific pitch slower than 97.95 mph.
Clase, a three-time All-Star and two-time American League Reliever of the Year, is currently under a $4.5 million contract for 2025. Prosecutors claim that he began providing bettors with information about his pitches in 2023 but only began accepting bribes in 2024.
In contrast, Ortiz, who had a salary of $782,600 this year, allegedly became involved in the scheme in June. He is said to have rigged pitches in games against both the Seattle Mariners and the St. Louis Cardinals.
The indictments reflect a broader crackdown on corruption within professional sports betting. In a related incident last month, over 30 individuals, including notable figures from the NBA like Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, were arrested in connection with a major gambling investigation.
