Cleveland Guardians’ standout pitcher, Emmanuel Clase, was apprehended at John F. Kennedy Airport on Thursday for allegedly accepting bribes to manipulate his pitches in favor of gamblers. Clase, aged 27, was taken into custody upon his arrival from the Dominican Republic. The U.S. attorney’s office confirmed his arrest and stated that the three-time all-star and two-time American League reliever of the year is set to appear in court in Brooklyn later in the day. His teammate, Luis Ortiz, who was also involved in the purported scheme, pleaded not guilty the day before.
Both Clase and Ortiz have been on paid leave since July while Major League Baseball (MLB) conducted an investigation into suspicious betting activities during their games. Prosecutors claim that the duo accepted substantial bribes to assist unnamed gamblers in winning over $460,000 on bets related to the speed and outcome of their pitches. Allegedly, Clase started sharing pitch information with the bettors in 2023 and subsequently requested payoffs earlier this year. The prosecutors assert that Clase intentionally threw predetermined pitches, often on the first throw of an at-bat, ensuring they were outside the strike zone to influence the umpire’s call.
In a specific instance during an April game against the Boston Red Sox, Clase reportedly communicated with a bettor before pitching, resulting in the bettor winning $11,000 by correctly predicting the speed of a pitch. Clase supposedly recruited Ortiz into the scheme and assisted in funding the bets. Despite the charges, Clase’s lawyer, Michael Ferrara, maintains his client’s innocence, emphasizing Clase’s commitment to baseball and team success. Ortiz’s lawyer, Chris Georgalis, also denied the allegations, explaining that payments between Ortiz and individuals in the Dominican Republic were legitimate.
Clase and Ortiz face multiple charges, including wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, and conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery, with penalties of up to 20 years in prison. MLB responded to the indictments by implementing restrictions on betting on individual pitches. These incidents mark the latest in a series of gambling scandals affecting American professional sports since the legalization of sports betting in the majority of U.S. states following a pivotal Supreme Court ruling in 2018. Notably, a recent gambling sweep resulted in the arrest of numerous individuals, including prominent NBA figures, for involvement in rigged poker games and illicit betting activities.