Class and Ortiz Face Trial on Federal Charges
Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz are facing a trial in May on federal charges related to accepting bribes. These bribes, according to the accusations, were to help bettors win on bets related to their pitches.
U.S. District Judge Kiyo Matsumoto announced that jury selection will tentatively begin on May 4 in Brooklyn federal court. The trial could begin the following week or sooner.
U.S. Assistant Attorney Sean Sherman reported that the prosecution estimates the trial could last two weeks. He also mentioned that, although there have been conversations since the pitchers’ arrest, a possible plea agreement to avoid trial has not yet been discussed.
Initially, a trial date was proposed for February, but both the prosecution and defense attorneys requested a start in the spring.
Sherman indicated that this week evidence and materials began to be provided to defense attorneys, including hundreds of gigabytes of files extracted from various electronic devices.
Class, Ortiz, and his lawyers did not comment outside the court. The next court date is scheduled for January 15.
Both players were released on bail after pleading not guilty last month to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery.
According to prosecutors, the pitchers accepted thousands of dollars in bribes to help two bettors, originally from the Dominican Republic, win at least $460,000 in bets on the speed and outcome of their pitches.
It is alleged that Clase, the Guardians’ star closer, began providing information to bettors in 2023 and then recruited Ortiz into the scheme earlier this year.
The players’ lawyers have denied the charges. Ortiz’s lawyer has maintained that the payments between his client and people in the Dominican Republic were for legal activities, not bribes.
Clase, 27 years old, is a three-time All-Star and two-time American League Reliever of the Year. He is currently in the fourth season of a five-year contract for $20 million.
Ortiz, 26 years old, had a salary of $782,600 this year as a starting pitcher for the Guardians.
Both pitchers have been on paid leave without discipline since July, when MLB began investigating what was considered unusually high betting activity during their games.
The Guardians will begin spring training in February. The team’s first home game is on April 3rd.
