Jury selection begins Monday in Brooklyn federal court for the trial of former Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, who face federal conspiracy charges tied to an alleged pitch-rigging scheme. Over the course of the expected month-long trial, jurors will hear testimony from several professional baseball players, including catchers and team executives.
Federal prosecutors allege that the pitchers accepted thousands of dollars in bribes to help two gamblers from their native Dominican Republic win at least $460,000 through in-game prop bets. According to the indictment, the wagers targeted the speed and placement of specific pitches, with Clase allegedly providing pitch information starting in 2023 before recruiting Ortiz into the operation in 2025.
Both players have pleaded not guilty to wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, and conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery. Ortiz’s legal team previously attempted to sever his trial from Clase’s, but the motion was denied. The pitchers currently remain on unpaid, non-disciplinary leave from the club while their legal proceedings move forward.
The defense plans to argue that the pitchers never colluded with bettors and were merely varying pitch placements strategically during games to deceive opposing batters. Meanwhile, Major League Baseball and the Guardians stated they cooperated fully with federal authorities, with the league initially alerting law enforcement after detecting unusual wagering activity.
Key legal rulings were finalized ahead of opening arguments. On Friday, Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto barred prosecutors from introducing evidence that Clase owed $500,000 in U.S. taxes, ruling the government turned over the records to defense attorneys well past the discovery deadline. Prosecutors had sought to introduce the tax debt to counter defense arguments that Clase’s millions in Dominican financial accounts gave him no financial incentive to conspire with gamblers. Judge Matsumoto expressed hope that jury selection would wrap up quickly enough for attorneys to deliver brief opening statements Monday afternoon. On Friday, the judge ruled that prosecutors cannot show the jury proof that Clase owed $500,000 in US taxes because they had only provided the evidence to defence lawyers several days earlier and long after a deadline ha.
The trial carries significant stakes for both athletes’ careers and personal freedom. Clase, 28, is a three-time All-Star and two-time American League Reliever of the Year who was four years into a five-year, $20m contract when charges surfaced in November 2025. Ortiz, 27, earned $782,600 as a starting pitcher for Cleveland during the 2025 season.
