The Cleveland Guardians, a franchise long known for its tenacious pitching and blue-collar ethos, now find themselves at the epicenter of one of Major League Baseball’s most explosive scandals in recent memory. Two of their own—Emmanuel Clase, a three-time All-Star closer, and Luis Ortiz, a promising addition to the rotation—are preparing for a federal trial that could forever alter the landscape of professional baseball. Jury selection is set to begin on May 4, 2026, in Brooklyn, with the trial expected to last about two weeks, and the baseball world is holding its collective breath as the details unfold.
What started as quiet murmurs about odd pitch sequences and unusual betting patterns has erupted into a sprawling investigation involving seized electronic devices, hundreds of gigabytes of evidence, and allegations that have rocked the Guardians’ clubhouse to its core. Both Clase and Ortiz stand accused of accepting bribes to manipulate the outcome of prop bets—specifically, wagers on pitch speed and type—during MLB games. The indictment alleges that Clase began cooperating with gamblers in the Dominican Republic as early as May 2023, sharing advance information about his pitching and at times intentionally throwing balls into the dirt to influence betting outcomes. Ortiz, who joined Cleveland in a December 2024 trade from Pittsburgh, allegedly entered the scheme by June 2025, agreeing to rig pitches in exchange for cash bribes.
The charges are severe: conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy to influence sporting contests through bribery. If convicted on all counts, each pitcher could face up to 65 years in prison—a staggering prospect for two athletes who, until recently, were seen as vital cogs in the Guardians’ playoff ambitions. According to federal prosecutors, the scheme netted more than $450,000 in fraudulent winnings for the bettors involved. In one particularly brazen instance, Ortiz is alleged to have agreed to rig a second pitch in a June 27, 2025, game for a $7,000 bribe, while Clase was paid an identical sum for arranging the fix. Prosecutors claim Clase even provided $15,000 to a co-conspirator to wager on the rigged pitch, resulting in at least $60,000 in illicit payouts.
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Joseph Nocella Jr. didn’t mince words when announcing the charges: “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. Integrity, honesty, and fair play are part of the DNA of professional sports. When corruption infiltrates the sport, it brings disgrace not only to the participants, but damages the public trust in an institution that is vital and dear to all of us.”
Both pitchers have pleaded not guilty. Their defense attorneys maintain that the payments at issue were legitimate and unrelated to any form of match-fixing. Ortiz’s lawyer, in particular, has insisted that the money transferred between his client and individuals in the Dominican Republic was for legal activities, not bribes or kickbacks. Nevertheless, prosecutors say the evidence is overwhelming, citing text messages, cash transfers, and data from nine seized electronic devices as central to their case. Hundreds of gigabytes of digital evidence have already been turned over to defense teams, signaling a complex and contentious trial ahead.
The latest courtroom drama unfolded on December 2, 2025, when Clase and Ortiz made their first joint appearance before U.S. District Judge Kiyo Matsumoto in Brooklyn. The atmosphere was tense, with both men dressed sharply but avoiding the press as they exited the courthouse. The trial, originally scheduled for February, was postponed after defense attorneys requested more time to review the mountain of evidence. Their next status conference is set for January 15, 2026, and there have been no discussions of a plea deal thus far, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Sherman.
In the meantime, MLB has placed both pitchers on paid administrative leave and the restricted list, pending the outcome of the trial. The league, eager to restore public confidence, has already enacted new policies in partnership with sportsbooks. These include a $200 wagering limit on micro-betting around individual pitches and a prohibition on including such bets in parlays—a direct response to the vulnerabilities exposed by the Clase-Ortiz case. The Guardians, for their part, are set to open spring training in February 2026, with their first home game scheduled for April 3, but the uncertainty surrounding their once-elite bullpen looms large.
Emmanuel Clase’s fall from grace has been particularly jarring for fans. Born on March 18, 1998, in Río San Juan, Dominican Republic, Clase quickly established himself as one of MLB’s most dominant relievers. His electric fastball and icy composure earned him three All-Star nods and two American League Reliever of the Year awards. The Guardians rewarded him with a five-year, $20 million contract—a testament to his value as a closer who could “throw fire” and “knock it out of the park” when the game was on the line. Now, his future in baseball hangs in the balance, with a potential lifetime ban from MLB if found guilty.
For Guardians fans, the scandal is a gut punch. The bullpen, once the envy of the league, has been hollowed out by the absence of Clase and Ortiz, leaving manager and front office scrambling to fill the void. The timing couldn’t be worse, as the team readies itself for a new campaign and attempts to put the controversy behind them. The case has also forced MLB to confront the growing influence of sports wagering in the game, raising uncomfortable questions about integrity, oversight, and the pressures faced by players in a rapidly changing sports landscape.
As the trial date approaches, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Both sides are gearing up for a legal battle that promises to be as intense as any postseason showdown. Prosecutors are confident in their evidence, while the defense remains adamant that their clients are innocent and the payments were above board. The outcome will not only determine the fate of Clase and Ortiz but could also set a precedent for how professional sports leagues handle betting-related scandals in the future.
With the baseball world watching, the Guardians’ saga serves as a stark reminder of the challenges and temptations that come with the modern era of sports betting. As spring training nears and anticipation builds for opening day, all eyes will be on Brooklyn, where a jury will soon decide the fate of two pitchers whose careers—and the integrity of America’s pastime—hang in the balance.
