Cleveland Guardians’ pitcher Emmanuel Clase was arrested on Thursday at John F. Kennedy Airport for allegedly accepting bribes to influence game outcomes for bettors. Clase, 27, was apprehended upon his arrival from the Dominican Republic. The star player is set to appear in a Brooklyn federal court for arraignment later in the day. His teammate Luis Ortiz, also involved in the purported scheme, pleaded not guilty the day before.
Both Clase and Ortiz have been on paid leave since July amid MLB’s investigation into suspicious betting behavior during their games. Prosecutors claim that the pitchers received bribes to manipulate the speed and results of their pitches, assisting bettors in winning substantial amounts. Clase, in the fourth year of a lucrative contract, allegedly shared pitch information with bettors starting in 2023 and began seeking payoffs earlier this year.
During a game against the Boston Red Sox, Clase allegedly communicated with a bettor just before pitching, leading to a significant win for the bettor. Clase is accused of involving Ortiz in the scheme this year and facilitating financial transactions for the bets. Clase’s lawyer maintains his client’s innocence, emphasizing Clase’s dedication to baseball and team success. Ortiz’s attorney also denied the allegations, claiming any payments made were for legitimate purposes in the Dominican Republic.
Clase and Ortiz face multiple charges, including wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering, with potential prison sentences of up to 20 years for the most severe offenses. Following their indictment, MLB introduced new restrictions on betting on individual pitches. These incidents add to a series of gambling scandals in American professional sports post the legalization of sports betting in most states following a pivotal court ruling in 2018.