Federal prosecutors unsealed a 29-page indictment that provides more information about the mechanics of the alleged pitch-rigging scheme involving Clase according to The Athletic, as well as more examples in which he is accused of intentionally pitching balls to ensure his co-conspirators’ bets were collected.
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One example of this is particularly bad: Game 1 of the 2024 ALDS. Previously, Clase had only been accused of pitch-rigging in the regular season.
Class came into that game with a 7-0 lead and the Guardians ultimately beat the Detroit Tigers 3-2 in the series.In total, prosecutors allegedly claimed to have identified 15 occasions between 2023 and 2025 in which Clase allegedly made pitches to help bettors win their prop bets, as well as three occasions in which he planned to do so but never entered the game. That’s actually much less than a total of 48 previously reported in a different legal filing.
Class would allegedly communicate with co-conspirators in code via text messages. You can probably crack the encryption, via The Athletic:
“Throw a stone at the first cock in today’s fight.”
“Yes, of course, that’s an easy throw for that rooster,” (Class) responded. If there was any confusion, I would do it again later. I would throw it “low.”
In addition to Clase, Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz is accused of similar actions during the 2025 season. Both men face charges of wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy and conspiracy to influence sports competitions through bribery. They have pleaded not guilty.
Emmanuel Clase faces decades in prison if convicted at his pitch-tampering trial. (Photo by George Kubas/Diamond Images via Getty Images)
(Diamond Images via Getty Images)
CLASE’S co-conspirators are alleged to have earned at least $450,000 from their scheme, and CLASE and Ortiz received bribes. Of course, those numbers are much less than the $4.9 million salary CLASS was receiving from the Guardians in 2025.
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Class has affirmed his innocence through his lawyer:
“Emmanuel Clase is innocent and denies all allegations contained in the superseding indictment,” said Michael Ferrara, Class’ attorney. “While we remain disappointed by the erroneous views of the evidence and rushed to judgment that led to these charges, we look forward to clearing his name at trial where the full facts and circumstances of the case will be revealed.”
A third man, Robinson Vásquez Germosen, has also reportedly been indicted on federal charges for allegedly working as a middleman for Clase.
Clase and Ortiz are scheduled to stand trial in May and face decades in prison if convicted. Even if they avoid a significant prison sentence, there is also the question of MLB discipline, as they face a lifetime ban from baseball, pending the league’s investigation into the allegations.