MLB stars Clase and Ortiz called cheaters for rigging pitches

Federal prosecutors opened the trial of Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz on Wednesday by calling them 'cheaters' who rigged pitches for gamblers.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Urquiola told jurors in Brooklyn Federal Court that the two pitchers threw intentional balls and off-speed pitches so a group of sports gamblers could win bets on individual pitches.

'Baseball is thrilling because nobody knows what happens next,' Urquiola said.

'They told their friends what pitches they would throw before the game ever started.'

Clase, 28, and Ortiz, 27, are charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, honest services fraud, sports bribery and money laundering.

Both have pleaded not guilty and are currently on unpaid leave from Major League Baseball.

Clase was in the fourth year of a five-year, $20 million contract with the Cleveland Guardians when he was arrested.

Prosecutors allege the scheme began in 2023, when Clase became involved with a Dominican gambler named Enoc Pena.

According to prosecutors, Clase agreed to throw balls and slower 'slider' pitches instead of strikes and 'cutters' on the first pitch of certain at-bats.

This allowed gamblers to bet on his individual pitches on platforms like FanDuel and DraftKings.

Prosecutors say Clase rigged at least 18 pitches in 17 games from May 19, 2023, to May 28, 2025.

Ortiz allegedly joined the plot in June 2025 and is accused of manipulating two pitches in two games — both balls he threw into the dirt.

A third defendant, Robinson Vasquez Germosen, is also on trial, accused of using the pitchers' inside information to place bets.

In all, the bettors won $400,000, prosecutors said.

Urquiola began her opening statement by explaining the basic rules of baseball to the jury.

'Baseball is a competition between two teams where the pitcher for one team throws a ball to the batter of the other team,' she said, defining balls, strikes and outs.

She then told jurors: 'Each pitch is also a market for sports betting.'

Users of online betting platforms can wager on individual pitches — how fast they are, and whether they are balls or strikes.

Clase, Urquiola said, would 'put his thumb on the scale' by rigging the first pitch at the beginning of an inning, throwing a strike instead of a ball.

He communicated in code in text messages, the prosecutor alleged, using words like 'chickens' and 'roosters' to make it seem like he was talking about rooster fighting.

'He wanted a cut, too,' Urquiola said.

'Clase agreed to throw rigged pitches for kickbacks, and that's exactly what happened.'

'Then Clase brought in a partner, his fellow teammate and pitcher, Luis Ortiz.'

The two pitchers used more code, the prosecutor alleged, telling a cover story about buying and selling a horse to mask any payments.

Defense attorneys told a very different story.

Clase's lawyer, Michael Bronson, said Enoc Pena was a 'serial liar' and 'gambling addict' who took advantage of Clase.

Bronson said Pena made false claims to associates about having inside information about the speed and result of select pitches.

He argued that Pena simply guessed what pitches Clase would throw and told other gamblers he had insider knowledge.

Regarding the 'chicken' and 'rooster' texts, Bronson said they were about cockfighting in the Dominican Republic, where it is legal.

Luis Ortiz's lawyer, Samuel Landes, pointed out that prosecutors have identified only two suspected pitches relating to his client.

'That's not a conspiracy,' Landes told the jury, according to FOX 8 News.

'That's just baseball.'

Federal prosecutors previously identified 18 pitches they believe Clase deliberately manipulated.

In October 2025, one MLB insider told BroBible: 'Clase will never pitch in MLB again.

The gambling evidence found against him is irrefutable.'