Luis Ortiz, one of two Cleveland Guardians pitchers at the center of the MLB betting scandal, has pleaded not guilty to charges of wire fraud, money laundering, and influencing a sporting contest by bribery.
He faces allegations that he intentionally threw balls to allow bettors in his homeland of the Dominican Republic to profit. Ortiz is out on a $500,000 bond and must remain in Ohio, Massachusetts, Long Island, or New York City. His next court date is set for December 2.
expected to surrender himself ahead of the arraignment scheduled for Thursday afternoon
Emmanuel Clase is the other Guardians player in the center of this storm. He allegedly began working with two bettors in 2023 and got his teammate involved in the game manipulation in June 2025. Authorities have not arrested the 27-year-old, as he has reportedly been in the Dominican Republic. He is expected to surrender himself ahead of the arraignment scheduled for Thursday afternoon:
Both players maintain their innocence. Clase reportedly claimed that he was discussing rooster fighting betting with someone, not wagering on MLB games, when the FBI intercepted phone conversations about the scheme.
In response to the scandal, MLB has requested that its sportsbook partners cap bets on individual pitches at $200. The league also placed Ortiz and Clase on non-disciplinary paid leave this summer, pending the outcome of the investigation. MLB officials are reportedly considering lifetime bans.
