Trial Update for Cleveland Guardians Pitchers
In a surprising twist to a high-profile case, the trial for two Cleveland Guardians pitchers, Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, who stand accused of involvement in a betting scandal, may likely be pushed back from its original May date to October. This came to light during a hearing on Wednesday, where both players appeared in Brooklyn federal court to plead not guilty to a fresh indictment.
Indictment Details
Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto has indicated that while the trial is technically still scheduled for May 4, it is probable that the date will be adjusted to the fall in the upcoming weeks. The recent indictment unveiled no new charges against the pitchers; however, it did introduce a third suspect charged with acting as a conduit between the athletes and bettors. This person also entered a not guilty plea on Wednesday.
The scandal initially broke in November, when Clase and Ortiz were accused of accepting bribes totaling thousands of dollars to assist two gamblers from their home country of the Dominican Republic in amassing at least $460,000 through over 100 prop bets and parlays related to pitch outcomes. They are facing serious allegations, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to alter sporting contests.
Coded Communications
The latest indictment further revealed that Clase allegedly communicated using coded language when discussing pitches, citing phrases like “rooster” and “chicken” as references. For instance, prior to a game on May 18, 2025, he received instructions to “throw a rock at the first rooster in today’s fight,” to which he replied affirmatively, indicating he could execute the plan. However, he did not pitch that game and thus could not follow through on that specific directive. Despite this, prior to that encounter, Clase reportedly violated Major League Baseball protocols by using his cellphone mid-game to tip off gamblers about an upcoming pitch, resulting in winnings of approximately $27,000 for them.
Current Status of the Players
Both pitchers have been on non-disciplinary paid leave since July and are now training just as their teammates report for spring practice, with their first home game kicking off on April 3. After the hearing, Clase and Ortiz, who are currently on bail, left the courthouse separately without making any statements. Their legal representatives have repeatedly stressed their innocence, asserting that neither player conspired with gamblers.
Defense Strategies
Additionally, Ortiz’s legal team is advocating for a separate trial, claiming that if Clase shared pitching strategies with bettors, he did so without Ortiz’s consent. They emphasized that Ortiz has only been implicated in two questionable pitches over a span of 12 days, while Clase faces accusations of collusion extending back into 2023. They suggested that Ortiz could be seen as a victim of Clase’s actions rather than a willing participant.
Financial Implications
As for Clase, a three-time All-Star, he was under a $4.5 million contract for the 2025 season, part of a larger five-year agreement worth $20 million. The prosecution alleges that he began supplying information to bettors in 2023 but only started accepting payments last year. On the other hand, Ortiz, who earned $782,600 last season, allegedly joined this conspiracy around June.
Ongoing Investigation
The Guardians organization, along with Major League Baseball, has pledged to assist in the ongoing investigation, which was triggered by MLB’s alarms over odd betting patterns.
