New Court Documents Show 18 Alleged Emmanuel Clase Rigged Pitches
By Robert Linnehan in Industry
Published:
- Federal prosecutors identified 18 pitches from the Guardians pitcher they will argue at trial were rigged
- Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz face charges for alleged roles in a sports betting and money laundering conspiracy
- Both pitchers allegedly agreed to inform co-conspirators about specific pitches they would throw as balls
In new documents filed in New York District Court, prosecutors have identified 18 specific pitches Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Emmanuel Clase threw from 2023 to 2025 they will argue were part of a sports betting and money laundering conspiracy.
Clase and his former teammate Luis Ortiz will appear at trial in November to face charges relating to wire fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy to influence sports contests by bribery for allegedly agreeing to inform co-conspirators on specific pitches they would throw in MLB games.
The 18 pitches were thrown between May 19, 2023, to May 28, 2025, with one such pitch being thrown by Clase in game 1 of the ALDS against the Detroit Tigers.
Pitches Identified by Prosecutors
Clase, a star reliever for the Guardians, was placed on non-disciplinary leave in July 2025 per an agreement with the Players Association and never returned to the Guardians. Ortiz was placed on non-disciplinary paid leave on July 3, 2025, and also never returned to the team.
According to the indictment for both players, Clase and Ortiz allegedly agreed in advance with their co-conspirators on specific pitches they would throw in MLB games. The co-conspirators used this information to place hundreds of fraudulent bets on those pitches.
Federal prosecutors will argue the following 18 pitches were thrown by Clase with advance knowledge provided to co-conspirators:
Beginning around May 2023, Clase allegedly agreed with corrupt sports bettors to rig prop bets on particular pitches he threw. Co-conspirators wagered on speed and type of Clase’s pitches, based on what information the pitcher told them prior to a game. He would often throw the rigged pitches on the first pitch of an at-bat.
To ensure pitches were called balls, Clase often threw them into the dirt. Co-conspirators bet and won thousands of dollars at online sportsbooks with this information.
Clase allegedly received bribes and kickbacks from bettors in exchange for the information. In total, Clase won his co-conspirators at least $400,000 in fraudulent winnings.
In or around June 2025, Ortiz allegedly joined the scheme. Bettors agreed to pay him a $7,000 bribe for throwing a rigged pitch and also paid Clase $7,000 for arranging the rigged pitch. Before a game on June 27, 2025, Clase withdrew $50,000 and provided $15,000 to a co-conspirator who used money to bet on Ortiz’s rigged pitch.
In total, by rigging pitches, Ortiz won his co-conspirators at least $60,000.
Ortiz, Clase Face Several Criminal Counts
According to the indictment, Clase and Ortiz face four criminal counts for their actions. They face the following counts:
- Wire fraud conspiracy
- Honest services wire fraud conspiracy
- Conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery
- Money laundering conspiracy
If convicted, according to the Department of Justice each defendant faces a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment on the wire fraud conspiracy count, 20 years’ imprisonment on the honest services wire fraud conspiracy count, five years’ imprisonment on the conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery count, and 20 years’ imprisonment on the money laundering conspiracy count.
Regulatory Writer and Editor
Robert Linnehan covers all regulatory developments in online gambling and sports betting. He specializes in U.S. sports betting news along with casino regulation news as one of the most trusted sources in the country.
