o
These 2 Major League pitchers face up to 65 years in prison, if convicted ...... 65 years !!!
) 
Guardians’ Emmanuel Clase, Luis Ortiz Charged With Taking Bribes to Rig Pitches
(Associated Press)
https://www.news-herald.com/2025/11/...o-rig-pitches/
***********************************
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Federal prosecutors in New York have indicted two Guardians right-handers for their roles in what prosecutors say was a scheme to fix bets placed on pitches thrown in Major League Baseball games dating back as far as May 2023.
Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz each could face up to 65 years in prison for charges including wire fraud conspiracy, bribery and money laundering, according to authorities with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York.
According to the 23-page indictment, Clase and Ortiz intentionally threw balls so bettors could wager on pitches to be balls or strikes. Prosecutors say they found evidence against Clase dating back to May 2023 and later included Ortiz when he joined the club in 2025.
Ortiz was arrested Tuesday morning in Boston and will make an initial appearance in federal court there on Nov. 10. He will be arraigned in the Eastern District of New York at a later date.
Clase is currently not in U.S. custody, according to multiple reports.
Penalties for the two, if convicted, were also laid out in the indictment. Each defendant could face a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment on the wire fraud conspiracy count, 20 years’ imprisonment on the honest services wire fraud conspiracy count, five years’ imprisonment on the conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery count and 20 years’ imprisonment on the money laundering conspiracy count.
According to the indictment:
1) ) The defendants agreed in advance with co-conspirators on specific pitches they would throw in MLB games. The co-conspirators then used that information to place hundreds of fraudulent bets on those pitches.
2) ) Beginning around May 2023, Clase agreed with corrupt sports bettors to rig prop bets on particular pitches he threw. The bettors wagered on the speed and type of Clase’s pitches based on information they knew in advance by coordinating with Clase, sometimes even during games.
3) ) Clase often threw the rigged pitches on the first pitch of an at-bat. To ensure certain pitches were called as balls, he threw many of them in the dirt, well outside the strike zone. The bettors used the inside information to wager thousands of dollars at online sportsbooks.
4) ) Clase at times received bribes and kickbacks from the bettors in exchange for providing the non-public information. According to prosecutors, he also sometimes provided money to the bettors in advance to fund the scheme.
The indictment includes examples of pitches that prosecutors say Clase rigged, including one in a game against the New York Mets. In total, Clase caused his co-conspirator bettors to win at least $400,000 in fraudulent wagers, according to the indictment.
Also, according to the court filing:
5) ) Around June 2025, Ortiz joined the scheme. Together with Clase, Ortiz agreed in advance to throw balls instead of strikes on pitches in two games in exchange for bribes and kickbacks.
6) ) Before a game on June 15, 2025, Ortiz agreed with co-conspirators to throw a ball on a particular pitch in exchange for a $5,000 bribe, while Clase received $5,000 for arranging the rigged pitch. Before a game on June 27, 2025, Ortiz agreed to rig a second pitch for a $7,000 bribe, with Clase receiving another $7,000 for arranging it.
7) ) Before the June 27 game, Clase withdrew $50,000 in cash and provided $15,000 to a co-conspirator, who used the money to wager on Ortiz’s rigged pitch during the game. Ortiz allegedly caused his co-conspirator bettors to win at least $60,000 in fraudulent wagers.
“Professional athletes, like Luis Leandro Ortiz and Emmanuel Clase de la Cruz hold a position of trust—not only with their teammates and their professional leagues, but with fans who believe in fair play,” United States Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. said in a statement. “As alleged, the defendants sold that trust to gamblers by fixing pitches. In doing so, the defendants deprived the Cleveland Guardians and Major League Baseball of their honest services. They defrauded the online betting platforms where the bets were placed. And they betrayed America’s pastime.”
Ortiz’s attorney, Chris Georgalis, released a statement Sunday saying his client is innocent of the charges related to the two pitches he threw, and vowing to fight the case.
“He has never, and would never improperly influence a game — not for anyone and not for anything.”
FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia said the defendants’ alleged greed “not only established an unfair advantage for select bettors, but also sullied the reputation of America’s pastime.”
Major League Baseball’s investigation into the matter is ongoing, with Ortiz and Clase moving from paid leave through the end of the season to the restricted list once Cleveland exited the playoffs.
The league issued a statement Sunday that read:
“MLB contacted federal law enforcement at the outset of its investigation and has fully cooperated throughout the process. We are aware of the indictment and today’s arrest, and our investigation is ongoing.”
The Guardians also acknowledged Sunday’s developments in a statement:
“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."
o