UPDATE: Cleveland Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz has been granted a $500,000 bond by a federal court in Boston following serious bribery allegations. Ortiz, along with teammate Emmanuel Clase, is accused of taking bribes to influence pitch outcomes for gamblers in the Dominican Republic. This shocking development raises urgent concerns about integrity in professional sports.
Ortiz appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Donald Cabell on Monday, where he secured his release under strict conditions, including surrendering his passport and limiting his travel to the Northeast. The judge ordered Ortiz to avoid contact with potential witnesses or co-defendants. Dressed in a pale green track suit, Ortiz remained silent during the brief hearing, while his attorneys declined to comment outside the courtroom.
The indictment, unsealed on Sunday, alleges that Ortiz and Clase accepted payoffs totaling several thousand dollars, which enabled two unnamed gamblers to profit by at least $460,000 on bets tied to the speed and outcome of specific pitches. Notably, some of these pitches were intentionally thrown poorly, landing in the dirt. The accusations stem from an ongoing investigation initiated by Major League Baseball (MLB) following unusually high in-game betting activity during games in April, May, and June.
Ortiz, aged 26, was taken into custody by the FBI at Boston Logan International Airport on Sunday. Clase, aged 27, is believed to be outside the United States, according to a law enforcement official who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. condemned the actions of Ortiz and Clase, stating, “They betrayed America’s pastime.” He emphasized the importance of integrity in professional sports, adding that corruption undermines public trust in these institutions.
In response to the charges, Ortiz’s attorney, Chris Georgalis, asserted his client’s innocence, claiming that any financial transactions were for legal activities. He stated, “Luis has never, and would never, improperly influence a game.” Meanwhile, MLB has confirmed its awareness of the indictment and is continuing its investigation into the matter.
The Cleveland Guardians released a statement acknowledging the ongoing law enforcement actions and committed to cooperating fully with both law enforcement and MLB as investigations progress.
Ortiz and Clase face serious charges, including wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, and conspiracy to influence sporting contests through bribery. If convicted, the top charges could lead to sentences of up to 20 years in prison.
One highlighted incident involved Clase allegedly communicating with a bettor before a game against the Boston Red Sox, resulting in a quick $11,000 payout for the bettor based on a wager about Clase’s pitch speed. Clase, a three-time All-Star, had a salary of $4.5 million in 2025, part of a lucrative five-year contract. Prosecutors claim he began supplying bettors with pitch information in 2023 but only requested payoffs this year. Ortiz, with a salary of $782,600 for the current year, reportedly joined the scheme in June, manipulating pitches during games against the Seattle Mariners and the St. Louis Cardinals.
These allegations mark a significant escalation in the federal crackdown on sports betting corruption. Just last month, over 30 individuals were arrested in connection with a gambling sweep that implicated notable figures in the NBA, including Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier.
As this situation develops, all eyes will be on the legal proceedings surrounding Ortiz and Clase, and how this case may further impact the sports betting landscape in the United States. Stay tuned for updates as more information becomes available.