Trial opens for Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, accused of selling their pitches to gamblers
AP's courtroom report lays out both sides, from the prosecution's code words ('chicken', 'rooster') to the defense's claim that a gambler invented the scheme.
A federal fraud trial of Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz began in Brooklyn this week. In opening statements on Wednesday, Nov. 4, prosecutor Rebecca Urquiola called them "cheaters" who "sold their pitches," AP reports.
Prosecutors say Clase, a three-time All-Star closer, started telling a gambler friend from the Dominican Republic in 2023 what pitches he would throw, letting bettors win at least $460,000 on bets on whether a pitch would be a ball or a strike, then asked for kickbacks and recruited Ortiz in 2025. They say texts using code words and testimony from gamblers will prove it.
Both men have pleaded not guilty to conspiracy charges and are on unpaid leave from the club. Defense lawyers told jurors a gambler who befriended Clase falsely claimed to have inside information on his pitches and tried to sell it to others.
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Black Sox Scandal
After exploring Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz called 'cheaters' at fraud trial, baseball's oldest gambling scar is Black Sox Scandal.
Eight Chicago White Sox players were accused of deliberately losing the 1919 World Series for payment from a gambling syndicate, baseball's best-known fixing scandal.
Wikipedia · Wade · 5 min
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