Two Cleveland Guardians pitchers, Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, have been indicted on federal charges for allegedly participating in a betting scheme involving rigged baseball games.
According to court filings, prosecutors claim the pair conspired with outside accomplices to manipulate bets by using prearranged pitching signals during Major League Baseball (MLB) games. The group allegedly used insider information to place hundreds of bets, earning more than $400,000 in winnings.
Luis Ortiz was arrested in Boston on Sunday and is scheduled to appear in federal court on Monday, November 10. Emmanuel Clase has not yet been taken into custody.
Both players were previously placed on paid, non-disciplinary leave as MLB investigates possible links between professional athletes and illicit betting activities.
If convicted, Clase and Ortiz face severe federal penalties — including up to 40 years in prison for wire fraud conspiracy, five years for conspiracy to influence sporting contests, and 20 additional years for money-laundering conspiracy.
The MLB and the Cleveland Guardians have not yet issued official statements regarding the indictments.