Emmanuel Clase finds himself at the center of a federal investigation that is sending shockwaves through Major League Baseball.
Cleveland closer and teammate Luis Ortiz have been indicted by Brooklyn federal prosecutors on charges of taking bribes to rig the field during games. The FBI said both pitchers were part of an elaborate and shady scheme that began in May 2023. They receive payment from gamblers to throw a specific type of pitch at a predetermined moment.
According to court documents, the scheme allowed bettors to place bets knowing in advance which pitches would be thrown, giving them an unfair advantage in the prop betting market. Federal authorities arrested Ortiz in Boston on Sunday morning, and Klas remains in custody despite being named in the same indictment.
BREAKING NEWS: The Trump Justice Department has indicted Cleveland Guards pitchers Emmanuel Klaas and Luis Ortiz for participating in a betting-fixing scheme in which they “agreed in advance with co-conspirators on specific pitches they would throw in games.” pic.twitter.com/x2vpu8TJPg
— Johnny Maga (@_johnnymaga) November 9, 2025
The two players could face up to 65 years in prison if convicted of all charges, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bribery related to sports events. The MLB scandal is just one piece of a broader crisis engulfing professional sports betting.
The NBA was also rocked by gambling controversy in October when Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups were arrested by federal agents.
Rozier is accused of conspiring with colleagues to manipulate his statistical performance in games to allow gamblers to win bets based on his rebounds, assists and other metrics.
The indictment alleges that in three separate games, Rozier intentionally withdrew from the game or changed the game to favor the betting scheme. Billups faces charges related to his involvement in an illegal poker business that allegedly has ties to organized crime families.
The former NBA Finals MVP was arrested at his residence in Portland and placed on indefinite leave by the Trail Blazers.
Former NBA player Damon Jones has also been arrested in connection with a basketball gambling ring that federal prosecutors say has ties to traditional organized crime groups operating in multiple states.
The timing of these scandals has created a perfect storm for professional sports leagues, which have legalized sports betting as a revenue source in recent years. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred addressed the crisis at a recent press conference, acknowledging the challenges facing the sport.
“We are not asking for legalized sports betting,” Manfred told reporters. “It just came and that’s the environment we operate in.”
Both the NBA and MLB have implemented strict policies prohibiting players, coaches and team personnel from betting on games involving their respective sports. The league also maintains extensive monitoring systems designed to detect unusual betting patterns that may indicate manipulation.
The Cleveland Guardians issued a statement expressing disappointment at the allegations against its players while pledging to cooperate with federal investigators.
The team has placed Klass and Ortiz on administrative leave pending the outcome of legal proceedings.
