An Iowa baseball hat is seen during Hawkeyes baseball media day. Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK

State of Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission investigating Hawkeyes' baseball team

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated 5/8/23

According to Darren Rovell of the Action Network, the Iowa Hawkeyes baseball team is being investigated by the state Racing and Gaming Commission.

The announcement of this investigation came just days after the Hawkeyes somewhat mysteriously sat slugger Keaton Anthony for their series against Ohio State. Relief pitcher Jacob Henderson also didn't play.

Iowa's athletic communications team had put on a statement saying that "some" student-athletes were withheld from competition over the weekend due to a "potential NCAA violation," and Anthony and Henderson are regular players—which made them not playing noteworthy in relation to that announcement.

"We will have no additional comments as this is an ongoing investigation," the statement read.

That was followed up with this tweet from Noah Darling of College Baseball Central:

Hearing that the NCAA is investigating several University of Iowa athletes, including at least one baseball player. The investigation surrounds student athletes and gambling.

The University of Alabama fired Brad Bohannon under similar circumstances on Thursday.
— Noah Darling (@noahdarling_) May 7, 2023

Regarding Rovell's report, Iowa's athletic communications director, Steve Roe, gave no comment.

The state's director of gaming, Brian Ohorilo, did give a statement, though.

“The commission takes the integrity of gaming in the state seriously and is continuing to monitor the situation and will provide any additional information when able," he said.

This story may not have garnered much national attention but sports betting and college baseball became big news a few days ago when Alabama baseball coach Brad Bohannon was fired after he was connected to suspicion of wagering activity.

It was alleged that an individual who was in communication with Bohannon had placed bets for the LSU Tigers to win in their April 28 matchup with the Crimson Tide. Alabama's scheduled starting pitcher for that game, Luke Holman, was scratched before the game because of back tightness.

It was said that no Alabama players were involved in the suspicious activity. We'll have to wait and see if anything turns up in this investigation of Iowa baseball.

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