Prosecutor Calls Clase, Ortiz ‘Cheaters’ at Fraud Trial — SkimNews
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- Rebecca Urquiola told jurors that Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz were “cheaters” who had “sold their pitches,” alleging Clase shared pitch types with a Dominican Republic gambler in 2023 so bettors could reap at least $460,000 on ball-or-strike platforms.
- Emmanuel Clase recruited Luis Ortiz into the pitch-information scheme in 2025, according to prosecutors; both pitchers were arrested in November 2025, pleaded not guilty to conspiracy charges and are on unpaid, non-disciplinary leave from the Cleveland Guardians while free on bail.
- Rebecca Urquiola said Clase asked for kickbacks after seeing gamblers profit, and that text messages describing rigged pitches and bets—using code words “chicken” and “rooster”—along with testimony from some gamblers would prove the government’s case.
- Samuel Landes told jurors Luis Ortiz had no contact with gamblers and only two of his pitches, both balls, were at stake, declaring, “That’s not a conspiracy. That’s just baseball,” while disputing the alleged $5,000 tip.
- Michael Bronson said Enoc Pena made more than 7,000 bets from 2023 to 2025, bragged to other gamblers about Clase’s inside information and tried to sell it, but was actually guessing and coordinated more than 200 losing bets.
- Enoc Pena reached a deal with prosecutors, according to Samuel Landes, that allowed him to avoid prison and remain in the U.S.; prosecutors said they do not intend to put him on the witness stand.
- Luis Ortiz earned $782,600 in 2025 and had received $1.7 million in advance for future contracts while standing to make millions more; Landes asked jurors why he would throw “all that away” for $5,000.
Why it matters: Prosecutors say bettors gained at least $460,000, while Ortiz’s defense says only two balls and a disputed $5,000 tip are involved. The pitchers are already losing pay while on leave, leaving the jury to weigh coded messages and gambler testimony against a defense built around Enoc Pena’s alleged deception.
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