CLEVELAND, U.S. – The legal case involving Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz has seen a new development following the formal request from Ortiz’s defense to separate his process from that of his teammate.
This request arises amid federal accusations of a scheme to manipulate pitches with the aim of benefiting sports betting.
Both players face four counts of conspiracy in federal court in Brooklyn, related to wire fraud, bribery in sports competitions, and money laundering.
Ortiz’s lawyer, Christos N. Georgalis, argued that his client was “a victim of the Class scheme” and not a knowing participant in the plan.
Christos N. Georgalis
According to federal prosecutors, Clase allegedly coordinated an operation that allowed bettors to obtain estimated profits of $460,000 through predetermined pitches in Major League games. Although the formal indictment filed in November mentions nine suspicious pitches attributed to Clase, authorities have indicated that the number could exceed 250 deliveries under investigation.
In contrast, Ortiz was only linked to two allegedly manipulated pitches, a figure that, according to the prosecution, has not changed since the initial indictment.
Possible Conflict of Interest
Ortiz’s defense also alleged the existence of a potential conflict of interest in Clase’s legal representation, noting that his partner’s lawyers interviewed witnesses who could offer contradictory statements at trial. Ortiz maintains that his defense strategy would include demonstrating that Clase shared information about his pitching plan with bettors without his knowledge.
The case is under the supervision of federal judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto, who will have to decide whether to grant the request to separate the judicial processes. The trial is scheduled for May 4, although Ortiz’s defense has requested more time to prepare its case.
Ongoing Research
Court documents reveal that authorities seized more than 60,000 audio messages, 19,000 PDF files, 8,000 videos, and 8,000 photographs from devices linked to Clase and an unidentified bettor. So far, prosecutors have not presented evidence of direct communication between Ortiz and the bettors.
The investigation originated after an alert from the Ohio Casino Control Commission. Subsequently, Major League Baseball placed both pitchers on paid administrative leave. Neither has been able to join spring training while the legal process continues.
Class, considered one of the best closers in the Majors in recent years, signed a contract extension before the 2022 season with a guaranteed value of 20 million dollars, with additional options. The organization still hopes to determine whether it should assume the corresponding salary for 2026, while planning the season as if neither pitcher were available.
Both Clase and Ortiz have pleaded not guilty to the charges. The investigation remains open and could broaden the scope of the accusations in the coming weeks.
