Former Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz are on trial in Brooklyn federal court, accused of taking bribes to help gamblers win thousands of dollars betting on the speed and outcome of individual pitches.
Jury selection began on Nov. 2 before U.S. District Judge Kiyo Matsumoto, according to the Associated Press, in a trial expected to unfold over about a month. Clase, 28, a three-time All-Star and the Guardians' former closer, and Ortiz, 27, a starter, have pleaded not guilty. Both have been on non-disciplinary leave from the club without pay while the case is pending.
A third man, alleged middleman Robinson Vasquez Germosén, is standing trial alongside them, according to Los Angeles magazine's coverage of opening statements.
"The defendants are cheaters
— Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Urquiola, in opening statements
According to the indictment, the pitchers accepted payoffs of several thousand dollars to help two gamblers from their native Dominican Republic win at least $460,000 on in-game prop bets. Prosecutors say Clase began giving bettors information about his pitches in 2023 and recruited Ortiz into the scheme in 2025.
Prosecutors told jurors they will see a complicated web of intermediaries and financial transactions in the Dominican Republic, and alleged that conversations about horses were used to disguise payments.
Major League Baseball has said it contacted federal law enforcement after noticing unusual betting activity and has said it fully cooperated with authorities.
What the defense says
Defense lawyers describe the case as weak and circumstantial. Ortiz's attorney has said there is no credible evidence that his client did anything other than try to win with every pitch. The defense also argued in opening statements that baseball tickets the pitchers reserved for Germosén were simple gestures between friends.
Lawyers for Ortiz tried unsuccessfully to have him tried separately from Clase.
A ruling that limits the government's evidence
Before opening statements, Judge Matsumoto ruled that prosecutors cannot show the jury proof that Clase owed $500,000 in U.S. taxes, because they gave that evidence to defense lawyers only days earlier and long after a deadline. The ruling narrows what jurors will hear about Clase's finances.
The trial is also the first of several sports betting cases expected to be heard in the Eastern District of New York, which makes how it unfolds important for leagues, sportsbooks and prosecutors.
Key points
The charges are conspiracy offenses tied to alleged payments for specific pitches.
✓ Trial began Nov. 2, 2026 in Brooklyn federal court
✓ Four conspiracy counts include bribery to influence sporting contests
✓ Bettors allegedly won at least $460,000 on prop bets
✓ The judge barred evidence of an alleged $500,000 tax debt
✓ Both pitchers have pleaded not guilty
The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
What Happens Next
Testimony is expected to continue for several weeks. The jury will weigh the charges against each defendant.
Both pitchers' careers and potentially their freedom are at stake, the AP reported.
This report is based on coverage from the Associated Press, Los Angeles magazine, Al Jazeera and WHDH. Allegations described are claims by prosecutors and have not been proven.
Sources
- Associated Press via WRAL: Ex-Cleveland Guardians pitchers go to trial in New York on fraud chargeswral.com(opens in a new tab)
- Associated Press via News4JAX (Nov. 2, 2026)news4jax.com(opens in a new tab)
- Los Angeles magazine: Cleveland Guardians pitch-rigging case becomes first in wave of federal sports betting trialslamag.com(opens in a new tab)
- Al Jazeera: MLB spot-fixing trial set to begin in US court (Nov. 2, 2026)aljazeera.com(opens in a new tab)
- WHDH: Fraud trial underway in New York for Cleveland Guardians pitcherswhdh.com(opens in a new tab)
- Action News Jax: indictment detailsactionnewsjax.com(opens in a new tab)
