MLB places Emmanuel Clase, their close guardian, on paid leave for being involved in a sports betting probe
Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, both Cleveland Guardians pitchers, are currently on non-disciplinary paid leave as part of Major League Baseball’s ongoing sports betting investigation. MLB placed Clase on leave through at least August 31, 2025, joining Ortiz, who has been on a similar leave since early July.
The investigation started after a betting-integrity firm alerted sportsbooks about suspicious plays involving Ortiz, specifically two pitches in June where the first pitch of an inning was a ball outside the strike zone. This unusual event triggered alerts because some sportsbooks allow wagers on the outcome of the first pitch. While Clase’s direct involvement in betting has not been detailed publicly, he was placed on leave simultaneously with Ortiz, indicating potential connections or concerns.
Clase is a significant figure in MLB, a three-time All-Star and Cy Young finalist. His contract with the Guardians runs through at least 2026 with options into 2027 and 2028, making the investigation's outcome critical for his future. If MLB finds Clase bet on any games involving his team, he could be permanently banned; betting on other baseball games might lead to a one-year ban.
While on leave, Clase continues to receive his salary but is prohibited from participating in team activities and major league facilities until the investigation concludes, which may extend beyond the current leave period. The investigation is part of a broader MLB concern about gambling, particularly with the rise of prop bets, such as wagering on specific pitch outcomes rather than game results.
The Guardians lost to the Colorado Rockies during Clase's leave, dropping their record to 52-54. The investigation into Clase's case is ongoing, and he has been placed on leave per an agreement with the players' association. No additional players or club personnel are expected to be impacted.
In a separate incident, Athletics pitcher Michael Kelly and three minor leaguers - San Diego pitcher Jay Groome, Arizona pitcher Andrew Saalfrank, and Philadelphia infielder José Rodríguez - received one-year suspensions for gambling. In June 2024, MLB suspended five players for gambling, including a lifetime ban for San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano. Marcano placed 387 baseball bets totaling over $150,000 with a legal sportsbook in 2022 and 2023.
Umpire Pat Hoberg was fired by MLB in February for sharing his legal sports gambling accounts with a friend who bet on baseball games, and for intentionally deleting electronic messages pertinent to MLB's investigation. Major League Baseball has been monitoring sports gambling more closely since a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in May 2018.
The Associated Press holds the copyright for this report in 2025. AP freelance writer Brian Dulik in Cleveland contributed to this report. No further information about the connection between Clase and Ortiz's cases is provided in this paragraph. The betting activity on the pitches was flagged by a betting-integrity firm and forwarded to MLB.
The Major League Baseball (MLB) investigation, which started due to suspicious plays involving pitcher Luis Ortiz, has now expanded to include three-time All-Star and Cy Young finalist Emmanuel Clase, both of whom are Cleveland Guardians pitchers on non-disciplinary paid leave. Despite being on leave, Clase's contract with the Guardians extends through at least 2026, making the investigation's outcome crucial for his future in baseball.
