Copyright Essentially Sports
Emmanuel Clase is in the news for the worst possible reason. The Cleveland Guardians’ closer, who was once seen as the best in the game, may be standing at the end of his baseball career. This Sunday, federal prosecutors in Brooklyn unsealed a stunning indictment that charged Clase and teammate Luis Ortiz with wire fraud and conspiracy to influence games by taking bribes. The investigation first became public in July 2025 when MLB placed Clase on the non-disciplinary paid leave list during a mysterious sports betting investigation. And this happened just weeks after his teammate, Luis Ortiz, was also suspended. Now, the league’s gambling probe ended in a federal indictment. And after that, the baseball world is left asking one simple question: why? Clase was already a superstar. He was a three-time All-Star and also the Guardians’ all-time saves leader. But now everything seems wasted as he is almost nearing the end of his career and can face a combined 65 years of prison for several charges, according to the prosecutor. Here we will explore his background, his finances, and the highlights of his now-tainted career. Who is Emmanuel Clase? Early life and background His full name is Emmanuel Clase de la Cruz. Clase was born on March 18, 1998, in a small town in Río San Juan, Dominican Republic. Clase grew up in Río San Juan and loved baseball from a young age. His idol was the legendary New York Yankees closer, Mariano Rivera. At just 16 years old, he was signed by the San Diego Padres as an international free agent in 2015 for $125,000 bonus. Read Top Stories First From EssentiallySports Click here and check box next to EssentiallySports His professional career changed overnight after that trade, and he became a star in the Dominican Summer League, posting a 1.99 ERA. But the real turning point of his career happened when Clase was traded to the Texas Rangers in 2018 as part of a deal for Brett Nicholas. He promoted through several layers of minor leagues and finally made his MLB debut in 2019, posting a 2.31 ERA in his first 23.1 innings for the Rangers. It was the same year that Cleveland traded for him and sent their star pitcher, Corey Kluber, to Texas. Who are Emmanuel Clase’s parents? Despite his fame, almost no public information is available about Emmanuel Clase’s parents. Clase never shared their names or specific backgrounds in any media reports or public interviews. Though their names are not known, Clase has mentioned his family. In the official MLB bio he shared, he “enjoys riding horses and spending time with his family at the beach.” Although he is a private person and there are no confirmed details on his marital status or anything about his family, he has been seen with a woman and a child at public events, like the 2022 All-Star red carpet. Emmanuel Clase’s nationality and ethnicity Emmanuel Clase was born, raised, and learned to play baseball in the Dominican Republic. The nation is famous for producing elite baseball talent. His ethnicity is Hispanic/Latino. His teammate and alleged co-conspirator, Luis Ortiz, is also from the Dominican Republic. The federal indictment alleges that the unnamed gamblers who paid the bribes were from their native Dominican Republic, too. Even his home country’s league, LIDOM, banned Clase from playing there in 2025 due to the recent investigation. Emmanuel Clase’s net worth and financial overview This is the most frustrating part of the entire story. Clase already signed a 5-year, $20 million contract extension with the Guardians in April 2022. This deal included club options that made its total potential value $38 million. His salary for the 2025 season alone was $4.5 million, and his net worth was estimated to be around $4-5 million. And before the scandal, Clase’s total career earnings were already over $15 million. As the best closer in baseball, he was on track to sign a future contract worth over $100 million. But the perplexing part? Federal prosecutors allege he risked all of this for bribes as low as $5,000 to $7,000. That’s more like a walk-around money in the league! Emmanuel Clase’s career highlights Clase’s career is a story of two major violations. Before he ever pitched for Cleveland, he tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug (PED), Boldenone, and he was suspended for the entire 2020 season. He served his 80-game suspension and returned in 2021. After his return, he was a completely different man. Clase became a part of three All-Star teams in three consecutive years from 2022 to 2024. He led the American League in saves for three straight years and won the Mariano Rivera AL Reliever of the Year Award twice (2022, 2024). His 2024 season was legendary, when he posted a 0.61 ERA with 47 saves. It was the year when Clase became the Cleveland Guardians’ all-time franchise saves leader, passing Cody Allen. Clase’s overall career overview so far is 182 saves in 211 opportunities across 366 games with a 21-26 win-loss record, and 1.88 ERA. And his 100+ mph cutter was one of the toughest pitches to hit in all of baseball. Emmanuel Clase’s legacy is now sealed as one of the biggest “what ifs” in baseball history. He had the talent of his idol, Mariano Rivera, but sadly, if all is proved, he might be remembered for committing two cardinal sins of baseball.
