Guardians Pitchers Clase, Ortiz Face May Trial on Pitch-Rigging Charges

Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz are set to face trial in May on federal charges accusing them of accepting bribes to rig individual pitches for gamblers placing prop bets. Jury selection is scheduled to begin on May 4 in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn, New York, with the trial expected to start that week or by May 11 and last about two weeks, according to U.S. District Judge Kiyo Matsumoto.

The 27-year-old Clase, a three-time All-Star closer in the fourth year of a five-year, $20 million contract, and the 26-year-old Ortiz, a starting pitcher earning $782,600 this season, have both pleaded not guilty to the charges. They appeared in court together on Tuesday, where their attorneys confirmed the defendants are free on bond. The next hearing is set for January 15. Prosecutors have not offered plea deals, and both sides are exchanging evidence, including hundreds of gigabytes of data from electronic devices and search warrants.

According to the indictment, Clase began conspiring with unnamed bettors in the Dominican Republic in May 2023 to influence the outcomes of specific pitches. The scheme involved Clase intentionally throwing balls, slower sliders...