Former Guardians Pitchers Face Trial in New York Fraud Case
Former Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz go on trial Monday in Brooklyn federal court. Prosecutors accuse them of taking bribes to help gamblers win bets on specific pitches.
- $460,000 or more won by two Dominican gamblers, according to the indictment.
- Several thousand dollars in payoffs allegedly went to the pitchers.
- 2023: prosecutors say Clase began sharing pitch information with the bettors.
- 2025: prosecutors say Clase recruited Ortiz into the scheme.
Why it matters: Both pitchers have pleaded not guilty to four conspiracy counts. They are on unpaid, nondisciplinary leave from the Guardians.
- Charges include wire fraud, honest services fraud and money laundering conspiracy.
- Clase, 28, is a three-time All-Star on a $20 million deal.
- Ortiz, 27, earned $782,600 as a Guardians starter in 2025.
How 5 sources split on this story
Where they split: Coverage does not split on facts; the dispute is between prosecutors, who allege collusion, and defense lawyers, who are expected to say the pitchers varied pitch placement to fool batters.
Center coverage, 3 sources: The center frames it as a straight courtroom story about star athletes accused of selling information to gamblers.
Left coverage, 2 sources: The left frames it as a straight courtroom story about star athletes accused of selling information to gamblers.
What’s next: Players, including catchers, and baseball executives are expected to testify. The trial should run about a month.
- Jurors will not see evidence Clase owed $500,000 in U.S. taxes.
- The judge barred it because prosecutors shared it past the evidence deadline.
- Can prosecutors show financial motive for Clase without the barred tax evidence?
- How will the jury weigh the defense claim that pitch placement was strategic?
- What will MLB do with the players' status after a verdict?
