7 publishers · first seen Wed, 04 Nov 2026 20:04 UTC · updated Wed, 04 Nov 2026 22:38 UTC
Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz are on trial in New York, accused of conspiring with gamblers to share information about their pitches, enabling illegal betting. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Urquiola described the pitchers as 'cheaters' during opening statements, stating that Clase began sharing pitch information in 2023 and recruited Ortiz in 2025. Both players have pleaded not guilty to conspiracy charges and are on non-disciplinary leave from the club without pay.
Clase, a three-time All-Star, and Ortiz, a starter, were arrested in November 2025 and have been free on bail. Prosecutors claim that Clase's actions led to gamblers profiting at least $460,000. Defense lawyers argue that their clients are innocent and that a gambler who befriended Clase falsely claimed to have inside information, which was actually based on guesses and resulted in significant losses for the gambler and his associates.
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