Cleveland Guardians star pitcher Emmanuel Clase pleaded not guilty on Thursday to federal charges accusing him of helping rig bets on his pitches during Major League Baseball games, Reuters reported. Clase, an MLB All-Star and the franchise’s all-time saves leader, appeared in Brooklyn federal court with a Spanish interpreter and allowed his lawyer to enter the plea.
He was released on a $600,000 bond, which his agent helped secure. According to attorney Michael Ferrara, Clase flew in from the Dominican Republic on Thursday morning and will remain in the United States for the duration of the case. Prosecutors allege he manipulated pitch outcomes in exchange for bribes and kickbacks. Ferrara did not respond to a request for comment.
Teammate Luis Ortiz, who faces the same charges, pleaded not guilty a day earlier. Both players are suspended by MLB as the investigation continues. The league and the Guardians say they are cooperating with authorities.
Prosecutors detail scheme involving rigged prop bets
Federal prosecutors say Clase and Ortiz rigged prop bets tied to individual pitches. These wagers focus on small, specific outcomes, such as whether a pitch will be called a ball or a strike. Investigators say Clase intentionally threw balls in the dirt to help co-conspirators win their bets.
The indictment states that Clase began the scheme in May 2023. Ortiz joined him around June 2025. Prosecutors estimate that Clase helped others collect at least $400,000 in fraudulent winnings, while Ortiz’s actions generated about $60,000.
The case is part of a growing wave of criminal investigations into sports betting manipulation. Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn recently charged Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and former Cleveland Cavaliers player Damon Jones with similar offenses tied to NBA games. In a related poker case, Portland Trail Blazers coach and NBA Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups also faces charges. All three men deny wrongdoing through their attorneys.