During a federal trial in New York on Friday, prosecutors presented new testimony that sheds light on a betting scheme involving former Cleveland Guardians reliever Emmanuel Clase. Government witness Luis de Aza Baez admitted he placed dozens of wagers on the speed of Clase’s pitches during the 2023 MLB season, claiming he did so because he possessed inside information.
Inside tips and a halted Ohtani lead
Baez told the court that the betting tips vanished once the focus shifted to Shohei Ohtani. “What was going on with Ohtani, there was no more information like that,” he said, indicating that the flow of insider data stopped after Ohtani’s separate legal troubles were resolved.
In March 2024, Ohtani faced scrutiny after millions were transferred from his bank account to an illegal bookmaking operation. His longtime interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, pleaded guilty to stealing nearly $17 million from Ohtani to cover gambling debts. Mizuhara is now incarcerated, while Ohtani was cleared of any wrongdoing.
How the scheme operated
According to Baez, he was working as an Uber driver when he joined a group chat called “Uber Inc.” in Massachusetts. The chat was started by Enoc Pena, an associate of Clase, who would send betting tips to participants. Prosecutors displayed a screenshot of a text Clase allegedly sent to Pena on Sept. 30, 2023, the day the Guardians faced the Detroit Tigers. The message referenced “killing the first two chickens,” a code the defense argues referred to legal cockfighting in the Dominican Republic, not baseball betting.
Baez testified that he never received pitch details directly from Clase; all tips came from Pena. He claimed he “almost always” won when Pena provided the information, and after successful bets he gave Pena a share of the winnings.
Legal context and defense arguments
Both Clase and former Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz have pleaded not guilty to charges of wire fraud, sports bribery, and money laundering. Their defense maintains that the case hinges on “big talk and small bets,” arguing that the prosecution is exaggerating the significance of the alleged scheme.
Attorney Todd Spodek, representing the defense, told ESPN, “We’re confident leaving that judgment to the jury.” Baez agreed to forfeit $69,000 in winnings in exchange for the government dropping the wire‑fraud charge against him.
Testimony from former catcher
Former Guardians catcher Bo Naylor, who was behind the plate for the disputed pitches, testified that he was unaware bettors could wager on specific pitches. He also noted that he had frequently seen Clase using a cellular phone in the locker room, a practice prosecutors say may have violated MLB rules against communicating with gamblers during games.
Prosecutors estimate that bettors won roughly $400,000 from platforms betting on Clase’s pitches between 2023 and 2025, with Ortiz allegedly joining the scheme in June 2025. Clase, once a top closer with a 1.21 ERA in 2024 and third‑place AL Cy Young voting, saw his ERA rise to 3.80 in 2025, the season in which the investigation began.
Implications for baseball
The trial underscores ongoing concerns about gambling integrity in professional baseball. While the defense frames the case as a minor betting operation, the government’s presentation of text messages, financial forfeitures, and witness testimony suggests a broader pattern of illicit wagering that could threaten the sport’s credibility.
As the trial proceeds, the baseball community watches closely, hoping for a resolution that protects the game’s integrity while ensuring due process for the accused.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
