Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz called “cheaters” in New York betting-fraud trial

Two Cleveland Guardians pitchers are now at the center of a federal case in Brooklyn that prosecutors say shows how sports bettors can reach inside professional baseball. The government says the alleged scheme generated at least $460,000 in betting winnings tied to pitch-level wagers.

1. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Urquiola told jurors that Emmanuel Clase became friends in early 2023 in the Dominican Republic with a sports bettor who shared his interest in dominoes and cockfighting, which is legal there. Prosecutors say Clase eventually agreed to tell that “new friend” what types of pitches he would throw in certain games.
2. According to the government, that information allowed bettors to win at least $460,000 on platforms that let customers wager on whether a pitch will be a ball or a strike. Urquiola told the jury: “The defendants, Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, are cheaters. They sold their pitches.”
3. Clase, the former All-Star closer for the Guardians, and Ortiz, a starter, have pleaded not guilty to conspiracy charges. Both are on non-disciplinary leave from the club without pay while the case moves forward. They were arrested in November 2025 and have remained free on bail since then.
4. Prosecutors said Clase began providing pitch information to bettors in 2023 and recruited Ortiz into the scheme in 2025. They also say text messages describing rigged pitches and bets, sometimes using code words like “chicken” or “rooster,” along with testimony from some bettors, will support the government’s case.
5. Clase, 28, has three All-Star selections and won the American League Reliever of the Year award twice. He had completed the fourth season of a five-year, $20 million contract when the conspiracy and fraud charges became public in November 2025. Ortiz, 27, earned $782,600 as a starting pitcher for the Guardians during the 2025 season.

For high-risk operators, the useful detail is not the baseball drama. It is the wagering model: pitch-by-pitch markets are exactly the sort of micro-betting product that can be exposed if a player can influence the outcome of a single delivery.