In brief
Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, both pitchers for the Cleveland Guardians, have been indicted on multiple charges including wire fraud and conspiracy, stemming from a scheme to influence betting on baseball games. The allegations include taking bribes to inform bettors about pitch types in advance and intentionally pitching balls to favor betting outcomes. Major League Baseball has been cooperating with law enforcement in this investigation.
NEW YORK (AP) — Two Major League Baseball pitchers, Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz of the Cleveland Guardians, were indicted on Sunday for allegedly accepting bribes to provide sports bettors with advance notice of the types of pitches they would throw and intentionally tossing balls instead of strikes to ensure successful bets.Both players have been on non-disciplinary paid leave since July while the league investigated unusually high in-game betting activity during their appearances. The indictment includes several serious charges including wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery, and money laundering conspiracy. The most severe charges may result in a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison upon conviction.Ortiz was arrested by the FBI at Boston Logan International Airport and is scheduled to appear in federal court there on Monday.Major League Baseball confirmed that it had reported the unusual betting activities to federal authorities and expressed its commitment to cooperate fully with law enforcement during the ongoing investigations. In response to the indictment and Ortiz's arrest, the Guardians issued a statement affirming their awareness of the situation and their intention to cooperate with the investigations.Lawyers for both Ortiz and Clase have yet to comment on the matter.
