Executive Summary
- Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase was arrested by the FBI in New York after being indicted by the Department of Justice.
- The charges include conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery and money laundering conspiracy.
- Clase is accused of deliberately throwing pitches out of the strike zone for gambling purposes and recruiting another pitcher, Luis Ortiz, into the scheme.
- The DOJ alleges the scheme generated at least $400,000 in illicit winnings for co-conspirators.
Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase was arrested by FBI agents in New York on Thursday following a Department of Justice indictment on charges of sports betting and money laundering. According to reports, the 27-year-old pitcher was taken into custody at John F. Kennedy International Airport upon his return from the Dominican Republic.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the indictment, which also names fellow Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz. Both players face several charges, including conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery and money laundering conspiracy. Ortiz was previously arrested on Sunday and pleaded not guilty to the charges on Wednesday.
According to the indictment, investigators allege Clase’s involvement began in 2023. He is accused of deliberately throwing pitches out of the strike zone at specific moments in games for gambling purposes. The indictment reportedly includes photographic evidence of two such incidents from the 2023 season. Prosecutors also allege that Clase’s actions resulted in at least $400,000 in winnings for his co-conspirators.
The charges further state that in 2025, Clase recruited Ortiz into the scheme, allegedly paying him between $5,000 and $7,000 to also throw pitches improperly. In one instance detailed by the DOJ, Clase allegedly withdrew $50,000 in cash in June and provided a portion to a bettor to place wagers on his behalf.
Major League Baseball had previously placed both Ortiz and Clase on administrative leave in July as part of its own investigation into gambling. In response to growing concerns, the league announced a new agreement with sportsbooks this week to cap wagers on certain types of bets at $200.
Clase is scheduled to be arraigned in a Brooklyn federal court on Thursday afternoon. It is important to note that all individuals named in the indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.