Cleveland Guardians pitcher Emmanuel Clase is facing serious allegations of manipulating his pitching performance for the benefit of gamblers in a scheme that spans at least 48 games over two years. This revelation comes from a court document filed on Thursday, which indicates that the extent of Clase’s alleged misconduct is significantly broader than the initial information provided by federal prosecutors.
Previously, the indictment unsealed in November cited nine specific games in which Clase was accused of throwing rigged pitches, but an attorney for teammate and alleged co-conspirator Luis Ortiz revealed that the prosecution believes the misconduct involved many more games. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York is handling the case, and MLB has stated that it is cooperating with the investigation while refraining from further comment.
In the recent filing, Ortiz’s attorney, Christos N. Georgalis, requested that Ortiz’s case be separated from Clase’s, underscoring differences in their levels of involvement. While Ortiz faces accusations of influencing his pitches in two games during June 2025, Clase allegedly conspired with bettors from 2023 to 2025. Georgalis expressed concern that a jury presented with evidence of Clase’s extensive alleged wrongdoing could unfairly implicate Ortiz by association, given the substantial distinction in their cases.
Records indicate that Clase participated in a total of 197 regular-season games from 2023 until he was placed on non-disciplinary leave by MLB in July 2025 amid the gambling investigation. If the allegations are true, it means that approximately a quarter of those games may have involved manipulated performance.
In court proceedings, a judge has urged the government to supply evidence regarding Clase’s suspicious pitches to assist his legal team in their preparations. According to court documents, Clase has identified at least 250 pitches on which bets were reportedly placed, prompting the judge to encourage the government to disclose any additional allegations that could further illuminate the conspiracy.
Both Clase and Ortiz have entered not guilty pleas to multiple charges, including wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, and conspiracy to influence sporting events through bribery. The most severe charges could lead to a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. Prosecutors contend that the pair accepted substantial bribes from two unidentified gamblers in their home country of the Dominican Republic, allegedly resulting in over $460,000 in winnings based on bets placed on their pitching performance.
Clase, celebrated as a three-time All-Star and two-time American League Reliever of the Year, was in the midst of a $20 million, five-year contract during this period. Meanwhile, Ortiz, who joined the Guardians in 2025 after spending three seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, has only appeared in 16 games for the team. Both players were placed on non-disciplinary leave in July as the investigation continues.
The trial for this high-profile case is set to begin on May 4, although Ortiz’s attorney has requested additional time to prepare. The upcoming proceedings will likely attract significant attention as they unravel the complexities of this alarming situation in Major League Baseball.