MLB ‘spot-fixing’ trial set to begin in US court
Summary
Former Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz are set to face a jury in Brooklyn on charges tied to alleged bribery and bets on individual pitches. Both have pleaded not guilty, and the trial is expected to last about a month.Key Facts
- Prosecutors allege the pitchers accepted thousands of dollars from gamblers from the Dominican Republic.
- The indictment says the gamblers won at least $460,000 on bets about the speed and outcome of pitches.
- Prosecutors allege Clase began sharing pitch information in 2023 and brought Ortiz into the scheme in 2025.
- The pitchers face charges including wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy and conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery.
- Defence lawyers are expected to argue the pitchers varied their pitches to deceive batters, not to help gamblers.
- A judge barred prosecutors from presenting evidence that Clase owed $500,000 in U.S. taxes because it was disclosed late.
- MLB and the Guardians say they cooperated with authorities; MLB said it contacted federal law enforcement after investigating unusual betting activity.
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