Guardians pitchers face jury in Brooklyn fraud trial

Former Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz begin a federal jury trial on Monday in Brooklyn.

The two men face charges related to a scheme in which they allegedly accepted payments from two Dominican Republic-based gamblers. Prosecutors claim the pitchers provided specific information about upcoming pitches to help the bettors win at least $460,000 on in-game prop bets. The indictment alleges that Clase started sharing details in 2023 and brought Ortiz into the arrangement in 2025. Both players have pleaded not guilty to conspiracy charges and are currently on nondisciplinary leave from the club without pay.

The legal battle began when the Guardians discovered unusual betting patterns. Major League Baseball contacted federal law enforcement during its investigation and has stated it fully cooperated with authorities. The Guardians also confirmed their cooperation. Clase, a three-time All-Star and two-time American League Reliever of the Year, had finished the fourth year of a five-year, $20 million contract when the charges surfaced in November 2025. Ortiz, a starting pitcher, earned $782,600 during the 2025 season.

Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto is presiding over the case in federal court. At a conference on Friday, she indicated a plan to finish jury selection quickly so that opening statements can be delivered in the afternoon. The trial is expected to last approximately one month. Prosecutors have listed wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, and conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery among the charges.

Defense attorneys for Ortiz had requested a separate trial but were denied. Their team plans to argue that the pitchers were simply varying pitch placement to deceive batters rather than colluding with outside parties. In a ruling on Friday, Judge Matsumoto barred prosecutors from showing the jury evidence that Clase owed $500,000 in U.S. taxes. The judge determined the evidence was provided to the defense too late, missing the deadline for turning over documents to opposing counsel. The government had wanted to use that financial detail to counter any defense argument that Clase lacked a financial incentive to gamble.

Witnesses are scheduled to include several professional baseball players, catchers, and executives. The outcome of the trial will determine the professional futures of the two pitchers and could lead to criminal penalties for both.