Cleveland Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz has pleaded not guilty to federal conspiracy charges alleging that he deliberately rigged pitches to benefit sports bettors, as reported by ABC News.
Prosecutors claim Ortiz and fellow pitcher Emmanuel Clase conspired with gamblers to manipulate outcomes of specific plays during Major League Baseball games.
Ortiz appeared in a Brooklyn federal court on Wednesday, dressed in a leather jacket with his hair tied back. Magistrate Judge Joseph Marutollo ordered his release on a $500,000 bond, secured by his wife and a second surety. Ortiz must remain in Boston except for approved travel to New York and Ohio. The judge described him as an "enormous risk of flight" due to his "significant monetary resources and close connections in the Dominican Republic."
Over defense objections, the judge also imposed a gambling restriction, citing the charges' direct link to "conspiracy to influence sports contests by bribery." Ortiz's next hearing is scheduled for December 2.
According to the indictment, Clase began coordinating with sports bettors in 2023, allegedly manipulating the speed and placement of pitches in exchange for bribes. Investigators say the scheme enabled conspirators to win more than $400,000 in fraudulent wagers, often through "prop bets" on the first pitch of an at-bat.
Ortiz allegedly joined the operation this year, agreeing to throw specific pitches in exchange for $5,000 per game. Prosecutors said the pitchers' actions defrauded betting platforms, MLB, and the Cleveland Guardians, "betraying the integrity of America's pastime."
Authorities confirmed that the investigation was launched after betting platforms detected unusual activity during certain games. Officials added that the case is unrelated to recent Department of Justice indictments involving former NBA players in separate illegal betting schemes.
Co-defendant Clase, also a Guardians pitcher, is expected to surrender and appear for arraignment on Thursday
