MINNEAPOLIS, MN – APRIL 04: Emmanuel Clase #48 of the Cleveland Guardians looks on during warm ups prior to the game between the Cleveland Guardians and the Minnesota Twins at Target Field on Thursday, April 4, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Matt Krohn/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Major League Baseball world received a shock this past July when it was announced that Cleveland Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz, followed by his teammate Emmanuel Clase, would be placed on non-disciplinary paid leave while the league investigated their connections to particular betting patterns.
The investigation into Ortiz had begun the month before, after the Ohio Casino Control Commission was notified of irregular betting activity on prop bets tied to his games. Following that investigation, Ortiz and Clase have been indicted on several charges tied to allegedly rigging pitches that they threw during their games. Ortiz was arrested on Sunday, while Clase remains out of the country as of Monday.
“The activity allegedly began with Clase in or around May 2023,” Zack Meisel reported for The Athletic. “Ortiz joined in around June 2025. According to the indictment, Clase’s conspirators totaled more than $400,000 in winnings. Ortiz’s totaled more than $60,000.”
The allegations against Clase are particularly surprising, as he has been one of the sport’s elite closers in the last few seasons, with three All-Star nods and three seasons of leading the American League in total saves across the last four years. Clase signed a five-year, $20 million contract with the Guardians in 2022, per Spotrac, which seemed like a bargain for the team.
Despite that success, the investigation alleged that he rigged his first pitches in at-bats, usually throwing them well outside of the strikezone.
But Clase maintained his innocence when his attorney, Michael Ferrara, relayed his first public comments since the indictment.
“Emmanuel Clase has devoted his life to baseball and doing everything in his power to help his team win,” Ferrara said, according to the Washington Post’s Chelsea Janes. “Emmanuel is innocent of all charges and looks forward to clearing his name in court.”
Clase and his legal representation might feel like they have little choice but to signal confidence going into the legal proceedings. He and Ortiz face charges of wire fraud conspiracy, conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery and money laundering conspiracy that could carry 65-year prison sentences and lead to lifetime bans from MLB.
“Integrity, honesty and fair play are part of the DNA of professional sports,” United States Attorney Joseph Nocella said in a statement from the Eastern District of New York. “When corruption infiltrates the sport, it brings disgrace not only to the participants but damages the public trust in an institution that is vital and dear to all of us.”
MLB has suffered through numerous betting scandals, including game fixing in the 1919 World Series and allegations against Pete Rose that have kept him out of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Now, Clase and his teammate find themselves at the center of the most recent scandal with highly anticipated legal proceedings to follow.