Back in April, the regular season was shaken up when the Guardians pulled Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz from the clubhouse. Allegedly, they took bribes from bookies. Now, an investigation report was submitted on Sunday. It accused the two pitchers of helping bettors from their native Dominican Republic cash in on in-game prop bets.

Accusations include deliberately throwing slower pitches or bouncing them in the dirt, well outside the strike zone. The 23-page report from the Eastern District of New York outlines several allegations of the scheme. This also includes the money Clase and Ortiz reportedly earned from the bets.

“Prosecutors allege that Luis Ortiz was paid $5,000 for throwing an intentional ball on June 15, and Emmanuel Clase was given $5,000 for facilitating it. They did it again, according to the indictment, on June 27. The payment for each on that pitch was $7,000 apiece,” MLB insider Jeff Passan reports.

These are the only two games where Ortiz’s involvement is outlined in the report.

The June 15 game was against the Mariners, where Ortiz reportedly threw a ball on a particular pitch instead of a strike. Clase acted as a middleman between bettors and Ortiz. For the June 27 game, Ortiz allegedly threw the rigged pitch, and Clase arranged the same.

According to the indictment, the bettors walked away with around $450,000 from the scheme.

Clase is accused of using his cell phone during a May 2025 game to coordinate with a bettor. That’s strictly banned by MLB rules. And again, in a June 15 matchup against the Mariners, Ortiz reportedly took a $5,000 payment to intentionally throw a ball on the first pitch of the second inning.

The consequence, now?

They could face up to 65 years in prison. Plus, the league’s code of conduct says, “Any player, umpire, club or league official, or employee who bets on a baseball game in which they have a duty to perform (e.g., their own team) is permanently ineligible.” So, if the allegations are proved, they may not pitch in another big league game.

Both pitchers have been on paid leave since July while MLB looked into what it called suspicious spikes in betting activity during their appearances.

Clase is currently under a five-year, $20 million deal with the Guardians. It runs through 2029, including a $2 million signing bonus and an average salary of $4 million per year. Ortiz was on a one-year, $782,600 contract that’s already been terminated. Now, with the charges filed, Clase’s contract is expected to be voided as well.

Clase and Ortiz are just the latest examples of sports betting scandals

Betting scandals are becoming a concern for pro sports, though they’re always dealt with by law. But the U.S. Supreme Court’s May 2018 decision turned the tables on sports betting.

As per the trend, the ruling unfortunately paved the way for more gambling-related incidents involving players and officials.

Reportedly, just last month, a major gambling bust sent shockwaves through NBA. More than 30 people were arrested, including big names like Portland Trail Blazers head coach and Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier.

Then again, back in March 2024, the Dodgers fired Ippei Mizuhara, the interpreter and close friend of Shohei Ohtani. It was reported that he was linked to an illegal bookmaker. That time, Mizuhara pleaded guilty to bank and tax fraud after stealing nearly $17 million from Ohtani’s account to fund his gambling habits.

Nevertheless, those involved in past scandals have faced serious consequences. And if the allegations are true, Clase and Ortiz will too.