Overview
- Federal prosecutors in the Eastern District of New York unsealed a 23-page indictment charging both pitchers with wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery, and money laundering conspiracy.
- Prosecutors say Clase began working with bettors in May 2023 and Ortiz joined in June 2025, coordinating specific pitches to benefit prop bets, at times communicating during games.
- The indictment cites two June 2025 incidents in which Ortiz allegedly threw intentional balls for bribes—$5,000 on June 15 and $7,000 on June 27—with matching payments to Clase for arranging them.
- Co‑conspirator bettors allegedly won at least $400,000 tied to Clase’s pitches and at least $60,000 tied to Ortiz; each defendant faces potential sentences totaling up to 65 years if convicted on all counts.
- Ortiz is scheduled for an initial appearance in federal court in Boston on Monday, MLB and the Guardians say they are cooperating, and both players have been on non‑disciplinary paid leave since July as investigations continue.