The world of Major League Baseball is reeling after Cleveland Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz pleaded not guilty to federal conspiracy charges, accused of participating in a scheme to rig pitches for the benefit of sports bettors. Ortiz’s court appearance on November 12, 2025, in Brooklyn, New York, marked a dramatic escalation in a scandal that has already sent shockwaves through the sport and raised urgent questions about the integrity of America’s pastime.
Ortiz, just 26 years old and once considered a rising star in the Guardians’ rotation, stood before Magistrate Judge Joseph Marutollo wearing a black leather jacket and jeans, his long dreadlocks tied back in a loose ponytail. The scene was tense. Ortiz’s attorney, Elizabeth Geddes, entered the not guilty plea on his behalf, setting the stage for a legal battle that could have far-reaching implications for both the player and Major League Baseball.
Judge Marutollo released Ortiz on a $500,000 bond, secured by his wife and an additional surety to be named in the coming week. The judge, however, didn’t mince words about the risk involved. "The defendant has significant monetary resources and, importantly, has close connections in the Dominican Republic," Marutollo said, ordering Ortiz to remain in Boston—where he maintains a residence—except for court appearances in New York and meetings with attorneys in Ohio. Ortiz must also submit to GPS location monitoring and abide by strict gambling restrictions. "These allegations here relate to conspiracy to influence sports contests by bribery," the judge emphasized.
Ortiz’s next court date is set for December 2, 2025, but the legal drama is far from over. His teammate, Emmanuel Clase—a three-time All-Star and the Guardians’ all-time saves leader—was also indicted in connection with the same betting scheme. While Ortiz faced the judge this week, Clase was expected to surrender and appear for arraignment on November 13, 2025. Michael Ferrara, Clase’s lawyer, maintained his client’s innocence, stating, "Emmanuel Clase has devoted his life to baseball and doing everything in his power to help his team win." Both players, natives of the Dominican Republic, have been on non-disciplinary paid leave since July 3, 2025, when MLB began investigating unusual betting activity tied to their appearances on the mound.
The indictment paints a damning picture. Prosecutors allege that, beginning in 2023, Clase conspired with sports bettors to rig specific pitches during MLB games. The scheme, according to investigators, involved providing inside information about the speed and type of pitches—sometimes even coordinating via phone during games. Bettors would then place high-value prop bets, sometimes worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, based on this privileged information. The indictment cites several games, including a May 19, 2023, contest against the New York Mets, a June 2, 2023, matchup with the Minnesota Twins, and a June 7, 2023, game versus the Boston Red Sox, as moments when rigged pitches were thrown.
Clase’s alleged methods were brazen. He often threw balls in the dirt on the first pitch of an at-bat to ensure the outcome matched the bettors’ needs. In exchange, prosecutors say, Clase received bribes and kickbacks funneled through third parties. According to the indictment, bettors won at least $400,000 on pitches thrown by Clase between 2023 and 2025. The indictment also details that Clase only began requesting payoffs in 2025, despite providing inside information to bettors since the previous year.
Ortiz allegedly joined the scheme in June 2025, agreeing to throw balls instead of strikes in exchange for bribes or kickbacks. Specific instances cited include Ortiz agreeing to throw a ball on June 15, 2025, against the Seattle Mariners for around $5,000, and again on June 27, 2025, against the St. Louis Cardinals for $7,000. In June alone, bettors reportedly won at least $60,000 on Ortiz’s pitches. Prosecutors say Ortiz, who earned a $782,600 salary in 2025, was recruited into the scheme by Clase. The indictment claims, "Through this scheme, the defendants defrauded betting platforms, deprived Major League Baseball and the Cleveland Guardians of their honest services, illegally enriched themselves and their co-conspirators, misled the public, and betrayed America’s pastime."
The criminal investigation began after betting platforms noticed unusual activity during certain games or moments and referred their findings to professional sports leagues. MLB, in response, placed both Ortiz and Clase on non-disciplinary paid leave and has since announced new limits on betting on individual pitches. The league has also fully cooperated with federal authorities throughout the process. "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 league said in a statement.
Ortiz’s legal team has pushed back against the allegations. Chris Georgalis, another lawyer for Ortiz, stated that payments between Ortiz and individuals in the Dominican Republic were for legal activities, not bribes or kickbacks. Both Ortiz and Clase now face a litany of federal charges, including wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, and conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery.
This MLB betting scandal is unfolding against a backdrop of broader concerns about gambling in professional sports. Just last month, more than 30 individuals—including Portland Trail Blazers head coach and Basketball Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier—were arrested in a sweeping FBI operation involving leaked inside information about NBA athletes and rigged poker games backed by organized crime. Authorities have been quick to clarify, however, that the Ortiz and Clase case is not connected to the NBA investigation, nor to recent NCAA disclosures involving alleged game-rigging by former college basketball players.
The fallout from the Ortiz and Clase indictments has already begun to ripple through Major League Baseball. In addition to the new betting restrictions, the scandal has reignited debates about the relationship between professional sports and legalized gambling—a relationship that has grown ever more complex as wagering becomes increasingly mainstream. For the Guardians, the absence of two key pitchers on paid leave has cast a shadow over their season, while fans and analysts alike are left to wonder how deep the problem truly runs.
With Ortiz’s next court appearance scheduled for December 2 and Clase set to face a judge soon, the baseball world will be watching closely. The outcome of this high-profile case could set new precedents for how sports leagues, law enforcement, and the betting industry address the ever-present risks of corruption and match-fixing. For now, the Guardians, their fans, and the greater MLB community are left to grapple with uncertainty, hoping that the integrity of the game can endure this latest test.
