DOJ Indicts Two MLB Pitchers

Two MLB Pitchers Indicted in Betting Scandal

The Story

According to court documents, Clase and Ortiz worked with bettors from May 2023 through June 2025 to manipulate specific pitch outcomes during Guardians games. The pitchers allegedly agreed in advance to throw slower sliders, intentional balls, or off-speed pitches so that gamblers could place accurate bets using that insider knowledge.

The indictment shows that bettors used “proposition bets,” or “prop bets,” to profit from the players’ cooperation. These bets focused on individual plays rather than the game’s result. For example, the betting platforms allowed users to wager on whether a pitch would become a ball or a hit-by-pitch, or whether the pitch would exceed 94.95 miles per hour.

Prosecutors claim Clase began coordinating with Dominican bettors in 2023. He allegedly texted them mid-game to confirm which pitches he would throw. During a 2023 matchup against the Minnesota Twins, bettors earned $38,000 after Clase threw a pitch below the agreed-upon speed.

By mid-2025, Ortiz joined the conspiracy. On June 15, 2025, prosecutors say Ortiz threw the first pitch of the second inning—a planned ball—against the Seattle Mariners. He allegedly received $5,000 for that pitch. Bettors, who had wagered on that exact outcome, doubled their money and won $26,000 that day.

Investigators traced the total gambling profits to more than $450,000, much of it sent to the Dominican Republic. Both players reportedly accepted bribes and shared the winnings through intermediaries who disguised payments as “house repairs” or even a “horse purchase” to hide the money’s true origin.

Charges and Legal Fallout

Federal prosecutors charged Clase and Ortiz with Wire Fraud Conspiracy, Honest Services Wire Fraud Conspiracy, Conspiracy to Influence Sporting Contests by Bribery, and Money Laundering Conspiracy.

The government argues that the players betrayed Major League Baseball and the Cleveland Guardians by violating contracts that required honesty, loyalty, and compliance with MLB’s gambling rules. MLB Rule 21 clearly states that any player who bets on a game in which they play “shall be declared permanently ineligible.”

Clase allegedly coordinated multiple bets through his phone during live games—another direct violation of MLB policy, which bans player phone use except for emergencies. Prosecutors say both players used their positions to deceive sportsbooks, their team, and fans, undermining public trust in baseball’s integrity.

If convicted, Clase and Ortiz could face decades in prison, major fines, and loss of assets tied to illegal profits. The case stands as one of the most serious gambling scandals in modern baseball, recalling the 1919 Black Sox scandal and reigniting debate over the dangers of legalized sports betting in professional sports.