MLB pitchers risk 65 years in first pro athlete betting trial

Clase was reportedly paid $5,000-$7,000 per rigged pitch; Ortiz allegedly made $12,000 for two, according to court documents.

The hit

Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase & Luis Ortiz go on trial as the first professional athletes to face court in an ongoing illegal betting case, according to InGame. Clase is accused of throwing pre-planned pitches from May 2023 to May 2025; Ortiz allegedly rigged two pitches in June 2025. Two alleged liaisons are also charged, accused of connecting the players to bettors.

Why it matters

Prosecutors plan to use betting-volume spikes on specific pitches as evidence, while defence lawyers will argue the activity matches normal betting patterns. Jontay Porter, Damon Jones & others have already pleaded guilty in separate betting cases, but courts tend to go easier on plea deals, according to InGame. How the Clase & Ortiz trials play out could be instructive as a result.

The record

Indictment filed	November 2025; players on unpaid non-disciplinary leave from MLB since March 2025, suspended with pay by the Guardians
Alleged bettor winnings	Over $450,000 made by bettors, prosecutors allege
Maximum sentence	65 years if convicted on all four charges
Trial location & start	Brooklyn federal court, jury selection Monday
Estimated trial length	18 days, per both legal teams

What happens next

The Second Circuit Court of Appeals has yet to rule on Ortiz’s stay motion, a decision that could affect the trial start.

Sources: Trial Of Pitchers Clase, Ortiz Starts Monday

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