What Emmanuel Clase texted bettor after allegedly planned rigged pitch went awry

While federal prosecutors alleged that Guardians’ closer Emmanuel Clase was involved in an illegal sports betting scheme, that didn’t always go according to plan. 

Clase, along with fellow pitcher Luis Ortiz, was indicted on Sunday, with prosecutors alleging that Clase and Ortiz “agreed in advance with their co-conspirators on specific pitches that they would throw in MLB games” which in turn their co-conspirators “then used that information to place hundreds of fraudulent bets on those pitches.”

However, in one instance on May 28, 2025, according to the indictment, Clase’s plan went awry when one batter swung at a pitch that the Cleveland pitcher allegedly threw out of the strike zone on purpose, costing Clase and the bettors money.

Emmanuel Clase was a three-time MLB All-Star from 2022 to 2024. Diamond Images/Getty Images

The Guardians were playing the Dodgers and after confirming through text that he was all set to take part in the scheme that particular day, the Dodgers player who was at bat, Andy Pages, swung at the pitch that was low and outside the strike zone. 

The indictment alleged that Clase and the bettors wagered approximately $4,000 total that the first pitch that would be thrown would be a ball or a hit by pitch.

“Approximately 20 minutes after Bettor-1 lost the wager on May 28, 2025, Bettor-1 sent a text message to the defendant EMMANUEL CLASE DE LA CRUZa gif image of a man hanging himself with toilet paper,” the indictment stated. “Even though the Cleveland Guardians won the game, approximately 10 minutes later, CLASE responded to Bettor-1 with a gif image of a sad puppy dog face.” 

Clase has not been arrested yet, following the unsealing of the indictment on Sunday, and it’s alleged that he began rigging prop bets around May 2023, while Ortiz is said to have become involved in June 2025. 

The pair is facing wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery and money laundering conspiracy charges. 

Ortiz’s lawyer Chris Georgalis issued a statement denying his client did anything wrong and said Ortiz “has never, and would never, improperly influence a game.”

Emmanuel Clase throws a pitch during the ninth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Progressive Field on July 22, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. Diamond Images/Getty Images

“There is no credible evidence Luis knowingly did anything other than try to win games, with every pitch and in every inning. Luis looks forward to fighting these charges in court,” Georgalis said, per the Associated Press. 

Both players had been placed on non-disciplinary paid leave in July after MLB started an investigation. 

The latest sports betting scandal comes weeks after the NBA was rocked by mob-linked schemes that involved a current NBA head coach and player.