Copyright cleveland.com
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz denied charges Wednesday that accuse him of being part of a wide-ranging gambling case tied to his work on the mound. Ortiz appeared in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn on charges of wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering and conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery. He and Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase were indicted earlier this month on charges involving pitches they threw in games. Ortiz was arrested Sunday and entered a plea of not guilty Wednesday. Clase is expected to appear Thursday for his first appearance. A federal magistrate judge released Ortiz on a bond that totaled $500,000. The indictment in the case alleges that Clase and Ortiz intentionally threw balls so bettors could wager on pitches. Prosecutors say they found evidence against Clase dating back to May 2023 and that the scheme later included Ortiz when he joined the Guardians in 2025. The document indicates that Clase agreed with sports bettors to rig prop bets on particular pitches that he threw. Those who wagered bet on the speed and type of pitch Clase threw, based on information that he told them before he took the mound, according to the charges. The indictment alleged that Clase often threw the rigged pitches on the first pitch of an at-bat. To ensure certain pitches were called as balls, he threw many of them in the dirt, well outside the strike zone. Prosecutors said Clase helped bettors win at least $400,000 in fraudulent wagers. In June, Ortiz took part in the scheme, according to prosecutors. With Clase, Ortiz agreed to throw two balls instead of strikes on pitches in two games in exchange for bribes and kickbacks. Before a game against the Seattle Mariners on June 15, Ortiz agreed to throw a ball on a particular pitch in exchange for a $5,000 bribe, while Clase received $5,000 for arranging the pitch, according to the indictment. Before a game against St. Louis on June 27, Ortiz agreed to rig a second pitch for a $7,000 bribe, with Clase receiving another $7,000 for arranging it, the indictment shows. Ortiz was the losing pitcher in both games. Prosecutors said Ortiz helped bettors in the scheme to win at least $60,000 in fraudulent wagers. His Cleveland attorney, Chris Georgalis, said the pitcher did nothing wrong. “There is no credible evidence Luis knowingly did anything other than try to win games, with every pitch and in every inning,” Georgalis said in a statement. “Luis looks forward to fighting these charges in court. The government’s case is weak and circumstantial. He will defend himself, and he will prevail.” Ortiz was on a one-year contract with the Guardians that was to pay him $782,000. Clase was in the middle of a five-year, $20 million contract. After the indictment was unsealed Monday, Major League Baseball agreed to limit prop bets, or the wagering on individual pitches, to $200.
