The controversial case of Luis Ortiz and Emmanuel Clase, pitchers for the Cleveland Guardians, continues to unfold. They are accused of involvement in illegal sports betting. On November 12, it was revealed that Ortiz has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. The complaint specifically addresses the alleged throwing of balls instead of strikes during MLB games.
According to the formal indictment, which was unsealed last Sunday in a federal court in Brooklyn, New York, the players received bribes totaling several thousand dollars to help two anonymous gamblers from their native Dominican Republic win at least $460,000 in bets placed on the speed and outcome of certain pitches during games.
Luis Ortiz was released on bail after posting $500,000 and will appear in court on December 2
Accompanied by his attorney, Elizabeth Geddes, Ortiz pleaded not guilty at a hearing in Brooklyn. He was released on $500,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in court again on December 2. The conditions of his bail include monitoring his whereabouts and a ban on gambling, while travel is restricted to New York, Long Island, Massachusetts, and Ohio.
Ortiz was arrested by the FBI at Boston’s Logan International Airport. He and Clase were charged with multiple counts, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and bribery. The following day, Ortiz appeared in federal court in Boston, and on Wednesday, Ortiz and his wife arrived in Brooklyn for their arraignment.
When is Emmanuel Clase’s hearing? He and Luis Ortiz could face 65 years in prison
Emmanuel Clase, the Guardians’ closer and three-time All-Star, will be arraigned Thursday in the same court. According to the prosecution, the Dominican recruited Ortiz for the scheme after providing information about his pitches to gamblers since 2023. In a game against Boston last April, one of the gamblers won $11,000 after a call with Clase minutes before he took the mound.
He is innocent of all charges and hopes to clear his name in court
“Emmanuel Clase has dedicated his life to baseball and has done everything possible to help his team win. He is innocent of all charges and hopes to clear his name in court,” said attorney Michael Ferrara about his client. According to court documents, the maximum sentence they could face is 65 years in prison if found guilty on all counts.
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