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Guardians' Luis Ortiz Pleads Not Guilty in Federal Pitch-Fixing Case

Prosecutors outline alleged manipulation tied to player-specific microbets, prompting new wagering limits across MLB.

Overview

  • Ortiz was arrested at Boston’s Logan Airport, arraigned in federal court in Brooklyn, and released on $500,000 bail with GPS monitoring, a surrendered passport, and travel restricted to New York, Massachusetts, and Ohio.
  • His release bars gambling, firearms, and illegal drugs, and prohibits contact with alleged co-conspirators, victims, and witnesses.
  • Emmanuel Clase is scheduled for processing in the same court, and his attorney says he maintains his innocence.
  • Prosecutors allege the pitchers took payments that helped two bettors win at least $460,000 on pitch-speed and ball-or-strike wagers, asserting Ortiz agreed in advance to throw balls in specific games.
  • The indictment charges conspiracy to commit wire fraud, honest-services wire fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy to influence a sporting contest by bribery, as MLB caps player-specific microbets at $200, removes them from parlays, and Ohio’s governor urges a full ban.