Trending Now - Clase and Ortiz on Extended Unpaid Leave Status
WHO:
Emmanuel Clase, 28 years old
Luis Ortiz, 27 years old
Major League Baseball (MLB)
MLB Players Association (MLBPA)
Emmanuel Clase, pitcher for the Cleveland Guardians
Luis Ortiz, pitcher for the Cleveland Guardians
Major League Baseball (MLB)
MLB Players Association (MLBPA)
Federal prosecutors in the Eastern District of New York
WHAT:
Clase and Ortiz were moved from paid non-disciplinary leave to unpaid non-disciplinary leave on March 17th, 2026.
The top charges against Clase and Ortiz carry a potential punishment of up to 20 years in prison.
The indictment alleges that Clase threw rigged pitches in nine games, while the government claims he manipulated his performance in at least 48 games from 2023 to 2025.
Attorneys for Clase identified "at least 250 pitches on which bets were placed" and requested additional discovery from the government.
Clase and Ortiz were placed on unpaid non-disciplinary leave as they await trial for allegedly rigging pitches.
They were previously on paid non-disciplinary leave.
Clase is accused of throwing suspicious pitches in at least 48 games.
Clase pleaded not guilty to charges including wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy.
Clase was released on a $600,000 bond and is subject to GPS monitoring.
Bettors allegedly won $400,000 from betting on pitches thrown by Clase between 2023 and 2025.
Ortiz allegedly joined the scheme in June 2025.
Their trial is scheduled for the fall of 2026, with jury selection beginning on November 2nd, 2026.
WHERE:
Cleveland, Ohio (Cleveland Guardians)
Brooklyn, New York (federal court where Clase appeared)
WHEN:
Clase and Ortiz were placed on non-disciplinary paid leave starting in July 2025, with Ortiz's leave extended through August 31st, 2025, and Clase's leave starting on July 28th, 2025.
The indictment was filed on November 9th, 2025.
Clase's last full season was in 2024.
The investigation began in the summer of 2025.
The initial indictment was unsealed in November 2025.
WHY:
The leave was a result of an agreement between MLB and the MLBPA amid ongoing legal proceedings.
The allegations stem from claims that Clase and Ortiz received money to manipulate their pitching performance to benefit gamblers.
HOW:
MLB requested sportsbooks to cap betting limits on individual pitches at $200 and to prohibit those types of wagers from being included in parlays to prevent escalated payouts.
MLB has been monitoring the situation since alerting federal law enforcement at the start of the investigation.
Clase allegedly used his phone during a game to coordinate with a bettor on a pitch.
MLB requested sportsbooks to place restrictions on betting markets involving individual pitches, including capping betting limits at $200.
(UPDATED March 21, 2026 07:12 UTC)
In a significant development for Major League Baseball, players Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz were moved from paid non-disciplinary leave to unpaid non-disciplinary leave on March 17, 2026, following serious allegations against them. The indictment claims that Clase threw rigged pitches in nine games and manipulated his performance in at least 48 games between 2023 and 2025, with potential penalties reaching up to 20 years in prison. In response to the situation, MLB has requested sportsbooks to limit betting on individual pitches to $200 and to exclude those wagers from parlays to avoid increased payouts.
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(UPDATED March 20, 2026 23:10 UTC)
In a significant development, Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz have been placed on unpaid non-disciplinary leave as they await trial for allegedly rigging pitches, following their previous paid leave status. Clase, who has pleaded not guilty to charges including wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy, is accused of throwing suspicious pitches in at least 48 games, with bettors reportedly winning $400,000 from his performance between 2023 and 2025. Their trial is set to begin in the fall of 2026, with jury selection scheduled for November 2nd, as the investigation continues to unfold.