Federal Indictments Unsealed Against Two Cleveland Guardians Pitchers
Federal criminal indictments against two Cleveland Guardians pitchers, Luis Leandro Ortiz Ribera and Emmanuel Clase de la Cruz, were unsealed Sunday, alleging their involvement in a scheme to rig bets on pitches thrown during Major League Baseball games. According to federal agents, Ortiz Ribera was arrested in Boston, while Clase de la Cruz’s indictment was also revealed. This high-profile crackdown on gambling in pro sports comes after federal prosecutors arrested an NBA player and coach last month on similar accusations.
The government claims that the defendants deprived the Cleveland Guardians and Major League Baseball of their honest services, defrauded online betting platforms, and betrayed the trust of the American public. Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, stated, “Integrity, honesty, and fair play are part of the DNA of professional sports. When corruption infiltrates the sport, it brings disgrace not only to the participants but damages the public trust in an institution that is vital and dear to all of us.”
Response from the Pitchers’ Representatives
An attorney for Ortiz Ribera, Chris Georgalis, said that there is no credible evidence to support the allegations against his client. Georgalis stated, “Luis Ortiz is innocent of the charges related to two pitches he threw. He has never, and would never, improperly influence a game—not for anyone and not for anything.” The lawyer also explained that payments and money transfers between Ortiz Ribera and individuals in the Dominican Republic were for lawful activities, and the indictment lacks evidence connecting him to the alleged bettors or demonstrating purposeful involvement in a scheme.
MLB’s Response and the Rise of Prop Bets
Major League Baseball stated that it contacted federal law enforcement at the outset of its investigation and has fully cooperated throughout the process. The league is aware of the indictment and arrest, and its investigation is ongoing. Allegations against the two Cleveland pitchers have been simmering since July, when both players were placed on non-disciplinary leave by MLB after sportsbooks and integrity monitors flagged suspicious bets around a series of pitches thrown in June.
The case centers on prop bets, which have surged in popularity across the country in recent years. Prop bets allow bettors to wager on an individual player’s performance, often at a granular level. Jason Van’t Hof, a sports intelligence analyst, said, “There is vulnerability with any kind of betting that is involved in sports, but the prop betting definitely does lower that threshold of how easy this is to potentially carry out.” Several pro sports leagues, including the MLB, have begun discussions about how to eliminate prop bets on their athletes.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has called for a ban on prop bets in his state, stating, “It’s clearly taken off, and it’s clearly a problem.” DeWine believes that prop bets were not what most people thought of when sports gambling was legalized. The Cleveland case is just the latest in a series of scandals involving players who altered their performance or leaked information to bettors since the legalization of sports betting in 2018.
Former Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter was banned for life in 2024 for allegedly leaking information to bettors on his injury status. Last month, federal agents arrested Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, alleging that he tipped off gamblers that he would be leaving a game early with an injury. Rozier’s attorney has disputed the charges against his client.
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