Luis Ortiz appears in court after arrest in MLB betting scandal
Luis Ortiz walked out of a federal courthouse in Boston, a hood over his head and never uttering a word to the gaggle of reporters who peppered him with questions on a gloomy day in Beantown.
A short while earlier, the Guardians pitcher stood before U.S. Magistrate Judge Donald Cabell, appearing in court for the first time on charges related to an alleged sports betting scheme that involved Ortiz, Guardians teammate Emmanuel Clase and associates in the Dominican Republic.
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Ortiz, 26, was granted release after appearing before Cabell, but was ordered to post $500,000 bail – $50,000 secured – surrender his passport, restrict his travel to the Northeast and Ortiz is to avoid contact with anyone viewed as a victim, witness or co-defendant in the case.
His lawyer did not comment to reporters as they walked out of court on Monday, but he did call the case against Ortiz “weak” in a statement.
Ortiz’s lawyer, Chris Georgalis, said his client, “has never, and would never, improperly influence a game- not for anyone and not for anything.”
“There is no credible evidence Luis knowingly did anything other than to try to win games with every pitch and every inning. Luis looks forward to fighting these charges in court. The government’s case is weak and circumstantial,” the statement added.
Oritz and Clase have been charged by federal prosecutors with wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery and money laundering conspiracy.
The pair could be looking at 65 years in prison if they’re convicted on all charges.
The alleged activity began in May 2023, according to the indictment that was unsealed over the weekend and alleged that the two Guardian pitchers “agreed in advance with their co-conspirators on specific pitches that they would throw in MLB games.”
In turn, their co-conspirators “then used that information to place hundreds of fraudulent bets on those pitches.”
The indictment alleges that Ortiz and Clase received payoffs to help two unidentified co-conspirators in their native Dominican Republic win at least $460,000 on bets.
The two players have been on non-disciplinary paid leave since the MLB started investigating the gambling activity in July.
U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. insisted that Ortiz and Clase had “betrayed America’s pastime” with their activities.
“Integrity, honesty and fair play are part of the DNA of professional sports. When corruption infiltrates the sport, it brings disgrace not only to the participants but damages the public trust in an institution that is vital and dear to all of us,” he said on Sunday.
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