Prosecutors seek $460,000 in evidence against two Guardians pitchers

A federal prosecutor in Brooklyn called Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz "cheaters" during opening statements on Wednesday. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Urquiola told jurors that the two men sold pitch information to sports bettors. She argued this practice allowed gamblers to win at least $460,000 on platforms that let customers wager on balls and strikes.

Urquiola said Clase began sharing pitch details with a gambler in early 2023. The prosecutor claimed Clase later recruited Ortiz into the scheme in 2025. She noted that text messages between the pitchers and bettors often used code words like "chicken" and "rooster" to describe specific pitches.

Clase, 28, was the team's former closer and a three-time All-Star. He had completed the fourth season of a $20 million, five-year contract when charges were filed. Ortiz, 27, is a starter who earned $782,600 during the 2025 season. Both players have pleaded not guilty to conspiracy charges. They are on non-disciplinary leave from the Guardians without pay.

Defense attorney Michael Bronson represented Clase. He described his client as a standout who attended school until age 15 in a small coastal village in the Dominican Republic. Bronson said Clase met Enoc Pena, a 41-year-old gambler, in the spring of 2023. The lawyer argued Pena was a "mark" who brought Clase food and picked him up at the airport to gain his trust.

Bronson stated that Pena placed over 7,000 bets between 2023 and 2025. The attorney claimed Pena lied to other gamblers about having inside information from Clase. Bronson said Pena and his associates actually lost more than 200 bets on Clase's pitches because they were guessing. He asked jurors if a superstar would risk his career for a few thousand dollars.

Samuel Landes represented Ortiz. He told jurors that Ortiz had no contact with the gamblers. Landes said only two of Ortiz's pitches, both of which were balls, are central to the trial. He asked the jury to consider why Ortiz would risk a career that included $1.7 million in advance payments for just $5,000 in tips.

Landes noted that Pena struck a deal with prosecutors to avoid prison. The attorney said Pena lied to banks and on immigration forms about his marital status. Although Pena was initially listed as a witness, prosecutors said last week they do not intend to call him to the stand.

The trial is taking place in a New York federal court. Clase and Ortiz were arrested in November 2025. They have been free on bail since their arrest. The jury will now hear testimony from various witnesses to determine the outcome of the fraud conspiracy case.