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Luis Ortiz Pleads Not Guilty in MLB Pitch-Rigging Case With Emmanuel Clase Expected to Surrender

Prosecutors say inside information on specific pitches let bettors win large prop wagers, prompting MLB to cap pitch bets.

Overview

  • Luis Ortiz entered a not-guilty plea in Brooklyn federal court and was released on a $500,000 bond with GPS monitoring, a gambling ban, and travel limited to New York, Massachusetts, and Ohio, with a status hearing set for Dec. 2.
  • Magistrate Judge Joseph Marutollo called Ortiz an “enormous risk of flight,” citing his monetary resources and close ties to the Dominican Republic.
  • Emmanuel Clase has been indicted but is not yet in custody and is expected to surrender Thursday for arraignment in the same Brooklyn courthouse.
  • Both Cleveland pitchers face four counts that carry maximum sentences of up to 65 years, with prosecutors pointing to texts, calls, and alleged payments of about $5,000 on June 15 and $7,000 on June 27 as bettors won at least $400,000 to $460,000.
  • MLB placed the players on paid leave in July and has now limited wagers on individual pitches to $200 and barred pitch props from parlays as league and criminal investigations continue.