**Cleveland Guardians’ Emmanuel Clase Pleads Not Guilty to Federal Bribery Charges Related to Gambling**
Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Emmanuel Clase pleaded not guilty in Brooklyn federal court on Thursday after being indicted on bribery charges related to gambling. Clase was released on $600,000 bail after voluntarily appearing in court; he was arrested upon arrival at John F. Kennedy Airport. The Dominican Republic native is accused by U.S. prosecutors, alongside fellow Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz, of fixing specific pitches to benefit gamblers.
Ortiz, who was in Boston when the indictment was announced, was taken into custody and also pleaded not guilty on Wednesday. Both players have been placed on administrative leave by MLB since July, when allegations first surfaced that they had influenced microbets—wagers on the velocity of specific pitches and whether the pitch would land in the strike zone.
According to the indictment, Clase had been in contact with gamblers since 2023 and began accepting commissions this season. In July, he allegedly recruited Ortiz into the scheme. Together, the two reportedly helped unnamed gamblers from the Dominican Republic earn $400,000 in betting profits.
Clase, the Guardians’ franchise leader in saves and two-time American League Reliever of the Year, is set to earn $6.4 million in 2026 as part of his five-year, $20 million contract, which also features two club options worth $10 million each for 2027 and 2028. Ortiz, currently in his pre-arbitration year, will earn $782,600 in 2025.
During Thursday’s hearing, Clase responded to the judge only with “yes” or “no,” which was translated to him in Spanish. He did not answer any questions from the media. Police seized Clase’s passport, and travel restrictions now limit him to New York and Ohio pending the outcome of the case.
Clase’s attorney, Michael Ferrera, affirmed his client’s innocence, highlighting Clase’s voluntary court appearance. “His actions speak louder than words. He poses no risk of flight,” Ferrera stated during the bail appeal. “He intends to stay through this.”
The two pitchers face four separate federal charges: wire fraud conspiracy (up to 20 years), honest services wire fraud conspiracy (up to 20 years), money laundering conspiracy (up to 20 years), and conspiracy to influence sporting events for bribery (up to 5 years).
Their next court appearance is scheduled for December 2.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/baseball/news-nikhil-guardians-emmanuel-clase-released-600-000-pleading-guilty-illegal-sports-betting-probe