SANTO DOMINGO – A scandal shakes the baseball world. What began as an investigation into statistical irregularities in MLB has escalated into a large-scale judicial process involving the outstanding Dominican closer Emmanuel Clase, of the Cleveland Guardians.
Accusations and Case Details
A 29-page federal indictment, issued by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, reveals that the pitcher allegedly used code language related to “cockfights” to coordinate the manipulation of pitches for sports betting purposes.
According to the record, on May 18, 2025, before a game against the Cincinnati Reds, Clase received a message that said: “Throw a stone at the first rooster in today’s fight.” For the prosecutors, this phrase constituted a direct instruction to alter a specific pitch. The player responded affirmatively and added that he would make the delivery “low,” according to court documents.
Authorities maintain that the references to roosters were not accidental, but rather part of a code linked to the player’s well-known fondness for raising these birds in the Dominican Republic.
Statement from the authorities
In another exchange of messages, dated September 2023, the pitcher would have indicated to a bettor how to act with certain batters, which, for the prosecution, evidences the intention to manipulate specific situations within the game. Although in some cases he did not enter the field, the investigators cite those messages as proof of prior planning.
Postseason Implications
One of the most sensitive aspects of the document is the inclusion of alleged events that occurred during the 2024 playoffs. A pitch in the ninth inning of Game 1 of the American League Division Series against the Detroit Tigers, on October 5 of that year, is mentioned.
With this expansion, the number of launches under scrutiny has increased from nine to fifteen between 2023 and 2025. Authorities estimate that those involved would have obtained profits close to 450 thousand dollars, allegedly distributed in the form of bribes or commissions.
New Individuals Involved and Case Separation
The case adds Robinson Vásquez Germosen, identified as a supposed intermediary between pitchers and bettors in the Dominican Republic. According to the accusation, he would have attended meetings in Cleveland using tickets provided by Clase himself.
In parallel, the defense of Dominican pitcher Luis Ortiz also requested to separate his judicial process, arguing that he was induced into the scheme without full knowledge of its scope.
Defense and Legal Overview
Michael Ferrara, Class’s lawyer, stated that his client is innocent and questioned the interpretation of the evidence presented by the prosecution. Similarly, the defense of the alleged intermediary described the accusations as unproven allegations.
The trial is scheduled for May 4 in Brooklyn. Meanwhile, the case has the Major League Baseball world on edge, where Clase was considered one of the most dominant relievers, after recording an ERA of 0.61 in 2024. In addition to facing possible sports sanctions, the closer could face federal charges for wire fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy to influence sports competitions through bribery, in a process that threatens to mark one of the most delicate chapters in the recent history of MLB.
