The Cleveland Guardians pitcher was fitted with a GPS location monitor and barred from gambling as the Judge outlined his strict release conditions

Cleveland Guardians All Star closer Emmanuel Clase pleaded not guilty at 2:45pm EDT on Thursday in Brooklyn federal court, to charges accusing him of participating in an illegal sports-betting scheme that allegedly influenced his own pitching outcomes over a two year period.

Clase, 27, was arrested by FBI agents at John F. Kennedy International Airport early Thursday morning after arriving on a flight from the Dominican Republic. He appeared several hours later before US Magistrate Judge Joseph Marutollo, where his Ohio-based attorney, Michael Ferrara, entered the not-guilty plea on his behalf. Ferrera also made it clear to the judge that his client flew to the United States to be arrested by choice, rather than stay in the Dominican Republic and be extradited (which could take years).

During the arraignment, Clase appeared confused when the judge first read the charges aloud. The courtroom paused briefly while Marutollo reiterated the allegations and emphasized to Clase that he was not admitting guilt, only confirming that he understood the accusations.

MLB’s Emmanuel Clase & his Ohio-based attorney, Michael Ferrara, left EDNY in silence after leaving pre-trial services to secure his location monitoring. The press chased him all the way across the street (I did not cross the street). The Judge brought up Clase’s work visa was… https://t.co/eecZbtKaLn pic.twitter.com/CZBHfRCkQw

— Lauren Conlin (@conlin_lauren) November 13, 2025

Judge Marutollo ordered Clase released on a $600,000 bond secured by property he owns in the Cleveland, Ohio area. His longtime agent, Kelvin Nova, called into the proceeding from Las Vegas, where he was attending the MLB owners meeting, to serve as a suretor. There was a light moment when the Judge mentioned he knew of the conference Nova was attending, possibly hinting he was a baseball fan.

Prosecutors allege that from May 2023 to June 2025, Clase and fellow pitcher Luis Ortiz (allegedly influenced by Clase) accepted several thousand dollars in bribes from bettors based in the Dominican Republic. The gamblers placed prop bets tied to the speed and outcome of specific pitches, wagers they allegedly won by more than $460,000. According to the complaint unsealed Sunday, Clase used his cellphone during games to coordinate with the bettors, instructing them on how to disguise the flow of money being sent back to the Dominican Republic.

Clase has been on nondisciplinary paid leave from Major League Baseball since June.

Despite Ferrara’s argument, the judge imposed location monitoring (the government did not include this as part of the package originally) and cited Clase’s “ample means” and a lucrative $20 million contract as concerns. The right-hander also holds a potential $10 million extension option for 2026 and $13 million for 2027, giving  prosecutors further ammunition in their flight risk argument. Under the conditions of release, Clase must surrender his passport, wear a GPS ankle monitor for location, and limit his travel to New York City, Long Island, and Ohio. He is prohibited from contacting witnesses, victims, co-defendants or co-conspirators, and cannot engage in any form of gambling.

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The next court appearance is scheduled for Dec. 2 before U.S. District Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto. Time between now and the hearing was excluded for the exchange and review of discovery materials. Clase, wearing a dark sport coat, black shirt and ripped jeans, appeared a bit tense throughout the proceeding, occasionally glancing at his attorney as the charges were explained through his Spanish interpreter. Neither Clase nor his attorney spoke before or after court.