Two Cleveland Guardians pitchers have been accused of accepting bribes for pitches they threw at Major League Baseball games.
Pitchers Emmanuel Clase de la Cruz and Luis Leandro Ortiz Ribera have been charged with their involvement in a sports betting and money laundering scheme, federal prosecutors and the FBI announced Sunday.
Prosecutors say the scheme attracted hundreds of thousands of dollars in illegal betting.
“The defendants’ alleged greed not only created an unfair advantage for select players, but also tarnished the reputation of American entertainment,” FBI Deputy Director in Charge Christopher Raia said in a statement. Both players deny any wrongdoing.
The indictment alleges that Mr. Ortiz and Mr. Claeys coordinated in advance with co-conspirators, allowing the co-conspirators, and sometimes themselves, to place hundreds of fraudulent bets at online bookmakers.
Prosecutors allege that Mr. Claeys, who they say joined the scheme around May 2023, and Mr. Ortiz, who they say joined around June 2025, each received kickbacks or bribes from players in exchange for advance information.
For example, prosecutors allege, before the June 27, 2025 game, bettors paid Ortiz $7,000 to set up a rigged field and paid Claise the same amount to set up a rigged course. The indictment says that before the game, Mr. Clase took $50,000 in cash and gave $15,000 to an accomplice, who used it to bet on the course.
In total, prosecutors say, Mr. Ortiz's rigged offers helped his co-conspirators win at least $60,000 in illegal bets, and Mr. Claeys helped his co-conspirators win at least $400,000.
“Defendants deprived the Cleveland Guardians and Major League Baseball of their honest services. They defrauded the online betting platforms on which the bets were placed,” U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. said in a press release.
“When corruption permeates sport, it not only brings shame to the participants, but also undermines public trust in an institution that is vital and dear to all of us,” Mr. Nocella added.
Ortiz was arrested in Boston on Sunday and Claise is not currently in U.S. custody, authorities said.
Both players were placed on non-disciplinary leave with pay over the summer during MLB's investigation into sports gambling.
The two were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, conspiracy to influence athletic competition through bribery and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
In a statement, the Cleveland Guardians said they are fully cooperating with law enforcement and the league in their investigations.
Luis Ortiz's lawyer Chris Georgalis told CBS News, the BBC's US affiliate, that his client is “innocent of the charges related to two presentations he made.”
“He has never and never will exert undue influence on the game—for anyone or anything,” Mr. Georgalis told CBS.
The BBC also contacted Mr Clayes' spokesman Kelvin Nova.
Although Mr. Clase was still under investigation prior to the indictments, Mr. Nova told Cleveland.com that his client “told me he wasn’t making bets.”
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The charges come just weeks after the FBI announced dozens of arrests in connection with two similar crimes. sports betting and money laundering schemes it involved a professional NBA player and coach, as well as members of New York City crime families.
