CLEVELAND, Ohio — Emmanuel Clase, the Guardians’ franchise leader in saves, was never far away from his phone. Day after day last season, he could be seen sitting in front of his locker scrolling or talking on it.
So it was not surprising when federal prosecutors said that Clase called or texted bettors during games so he and his co-conspirators could cash in when he threw rigged pitches.
Clase and teammate Luis Ortiz were charged in a 23-page indictment on Nov. 9 for conspiring with gamblers to rig pitches during games for their financial benefit. They each face 65 years in prison and a possible lifetime ban from baseball.
It is a violation of MLB rules for uniformed and non-uniformed personnel to use electronic devices, including cellphones, in the clubhouse, on the field or in the vicinity of the field during games. Players can use MLB-provided iPads in the dugout for scouting purposes, but they cannot be updated during the game or show catchers’ signals.
MLB has Gameday Compliance Officers in every clubhouse to enforce the rule. Usually two or three officials monitor each clubhouse, paying attention to the replay and video rooms.
Televisions in the clubhouse operate on a delay, and there is only one live feed from a camera above home plate.
MLB added this layer of security following the Houston Astros’ sign-stealing scandal which surfaced in 2020. MLB’s original crackdown was to prevent teams from installing cameras in their ballparks so they could steal catchers’ signs.
Cleveland Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz pleaded not guility at his arraignment at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York on November 12, 2025.Getty Images
The introduction of PitchCom, an electronic communication system between catchers and pitchers in 2022, has gotten illegal sign stealing under control. That has made compliance officers more vigilant about the use of cellphones and other electronic devices during games.
So how did Clase pull it off?
The indictment says that Clase last season used his cellphone during three games to contact bettors.
The first was on April 26 during the first game of a doubleheader against the Red Sox at Progressive Field. The game started at 1:11 p.m., and at 3:16 p.m., according to the indictment, Clase texted Bettor 1, as he is identified in the indictment. A two-minute phone conversation between Clase and Bettor 1 followed, prosecutors say.
Four minutes later, Bettor 1 and other bettors wagered on Clase throwing a pitch slower than 97.95 mph, prosecutors say. The indictment says the bettors won $11,000.
On May 17, in a game against the Reds at Great American Ball Park that started at 6:41 p.m., Clase texted Bettor 1 at 8:42 p.m. and said “ready,” prosecutors say. Bettor 1 responded, “But, of course,” according to the indictment.
Ten minutes later, the indictment says, Bettors 1 and 2 and others won approximately $10,000 by betting that a Clase pitch would be slower than 97.95 mph.
On May 28 against the Dodgers at Progressive Field, according to the indictment, Bettor 1 texted Clase at 1 p.m. just before the start of the 1:10 p.m. game. The text said “all set” to which Clase replied he was, according to the indictment.
At 3:16 p.m., in the middle of the game, according to the indictment, Bettor 1 and Bettor 2 each bet $4,000 that a Clase pitch would be a ball. The pitch was a ball, but the batter swung and the bettors lost their money, prosecutors say.
According to the indictment, Clase started throwing rigged pitches in 2023 with the Guardians, and he continued until MLB placed him on non-disciplinary paid leave on July 28 of last season.
Ortiz was put on non-disciplinary paid leave on July 3 after being recruited into the scheme by Clase. They did not pitch again for Cleveland for the rest of the year.
Both pitchers pleaded not guilty and posted bail.
Federal prosecutors estimate bettors made $400,000 on Clase’s rigged pitches. Clase also received kickbacks and bribes for his part in the scheme, the indictment says.
How was he able to evade detection, especially when sending text messages and making phone calls during games?
There are lots of places to hide in big-league locker rooms, especially in clubhouses like the Guardians, which underwent a big expansion before the 2025 season. There are nooks and crannies everywhere.
Clase’s role as closer also may have played a part. Most closers don’t open the game in the bullpen. They sit in the dugout, which gives them plenty of time to visit the locker room or bathroom between innings. Closers usually make their way to the bullpen around the sixth inning.
In some ballparks, closers have to walk on the field to reach the pen. It would be hard to make a phone call while doing that. At Progressive Field, all Clase would have to do was hop on a golf cart outside Cleveland’s locker room and take the concourse under the stands to the pen in center field.
As for the Compliance Officers, who have been told on occasion by players to get lost when they are questioned about cellphone usage, they have a hard job. MLB can reprimand, fine or suspend players who violate the electronic device policy.
But for those such as Clase and Ortiz who according to the indictment were intent on planning and executing rigged pitches while wearing a Guardians’ uniform, violating the cellphone policy would not deter them.