MLB Player Ortiz Appears in Court on Pitch-Rigging Charges (1)

Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Luis Leandro Ortiz Ribera surrendered his passport in federal court and was released on $500,000 bond Monday, after being accused of throwing intentionally bad pitches as part of a gambling scheme.

The case, unsealed Sunday in federal court in Brooklyn, charged Ortiz with money laundering, wire fraud conspiracy, and other charges for agreeing with certain bettors to rig his pitches. Prosecutors say that inside information was used to place hundreds of fraudulent bets. Ortiz’s lawyer has denied the allegations.

Ortiz appeared before Chief Magistrate Judge Donald L. Cabell, a day after being arrested at Boston Logan International Airport. He wore a teal tracksuit with his hair tied back, listening through a translator as the judge read the charges against him.

Ortiz declined to comment as he left the courthouse with attorney Michael B. Homer of Dynamis LLP.

Prosecutors said Clase had rigged certain pitches for bribes and kickbacks from bettors starting in May 2023. The bettors won at least $400,000 of fraudulent bets on the speed and type of pitch Clase threw using the advanced knowledge he provided them.

Clase, a Guardians reliever, often rigged the first pitch of at-bats, sometimes throwing balls well outside of the strike zone, according to the indictment. He also allegedly provided money to the bettors to fund the scheme.

Both Ortiz and Clase were charged in the Eastern District of New York, as one of the games in which they are accused of rigging pitches occurred against the New York Mets. Ortiz is scheduled to appear there Wednesday, while Clase is not yet in custody.

The government said Ortiz joined the conspiracy in July. Bettors paid Ortiz $5,000 to throw rigged pitches at a game on June 15, and Clase was also allegedly paid $5,000 for arranging the pitches. Ortiz’s pitches resulted in bettors winning $60,000 in fraudulent wagers, prosecutors said.

Major League Baseball put both pitchers on paid leave in July.

The league today announced new restrictions on pitch-level wagers at its authorized gaming operators, including a new $200 wager cap. The moves are designed to “mitigate integrity risks,” the league said.

The case came after a number of other recent indictments in the Eastern District of New York targeting professional athletes.

Current and former National Basketball Association players, including former Miami Heat player Terry Rozier, were charged with using inside information to rig wagers, while Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups was charged alongside others in an indictment related to rigged poker games.

Ortiz is also represented by Flannery Georgalis LLC.

The case is US v Ortiz, D. Mass., No. 1:25-mj-01413, hearing held 11/10/25.