Clase pitch-rigging trial opens in Brooklyn as defense targets credibility of key bettor

The federal trial of Cleveland Guardians pitcher Emmanuel Clase began this week in Brooklyn, with prosecutors and defense lawyers presenting sharply different accounts of an alleged betting conspiracy. Clase is charged with conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery. Prosecutors say he rigged 18 pitches as part of a wider scheme, while teammate Luis Ortiz is accused of rigging two more during the 2025 MLB season. Both men have maintained their innocence since their arrests last fall.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Urquiola opened for the government, calling the pitchers cheaters and saying Clase used coded language to disguise the nature of the pitches. The defense countered that the messages were ordinary talk about cockfighting, which is legal to bet on in the Dominican Republic. Clase's attorney Michael Bronson said they were not code words. One exchange cited in court filings includes a reference to "Chicken Number 3," in which Clase wrote that if he could not "kill" the first two, the third should not be played.

Much of the debate focused on bettor Enoc Pena, listed as a potential government witness. Samuel Landes, an attorney for Ortiz, said Pena allegedly lied on tax returns, loan applications and immigration forms, and has placed more than 7,000 bets totaling at least $725,000. Landes argued the government's case sits on Pena and that his absence would leave a gaping hole. Prosecutors indicated last week they might not call him. Bronson described Pena as a compulsive gambler who deceived Clase.

Prosecutors allege bettors tied to the scheme won at least $450,000 on the pitches. An associate of Clase placed more than 150 wagers on the speed of individual pitches and won 98 of them, or 64.9%, for a net gain of roughly $95,000. Urquiola said the government plans to call a forensic accountant to testify that the defendants tried to hide alleged kickbacks.

All but one of the allegedly rigged Clase pitches came in the regular season. The exception was in Game 1 of the 2024 American League Divisional Series against the Detroit Tigers. On Wednesday the government called MLB Senior Vice President Paul Mifsud and DraftKings investigations director Joel Trella. On Thursday, Milwaukee Brewers catcher Bo Naylor, a former Guardians teammate, testified for the defense that he saw nothing unusual in the pitches, though he admitted he had not known bettors could wager on individual pitches until the case emerged.