Clase and Ortiz, both former Guardians pitchers, have pleaded not guilty to charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, sports bribery, and money laundering. Prosecutors allege that the two conspired with bettors to rig 18 pitches across three seasons. According to the government, bettors allegedly won approximately $400,000 from betting platforms by wagering on specific pitches thrown by Clase between 2023 and 2025. Ortiz is alleged to have joined the scheme in June 2025.
During his testimony, de Aza Baez described his role as an Uber driver at the time, noting that he participated in a group chat labeled “Uber Inc.” created by Enoc Pena, an associate of Clase. Prosecutors indicated that Pena would send betting tips to the group. De Aza Baez testified that he “almost always” won when Pena provided a tip, and although no formal percentage was agreed upon, he gave Pena some money after winning. He clarified that he never received direct information about pitches from Clase, but only through Pena.
The defense challenged the interpretation of communications between Clase and Pena. Prosecutors presented a screenshot of a text message allegedly sent by Clase to Pena on September 30, 2023, discussing “killing the first two chickens.” The government argued this was code for betting on a pitch against the third batter, provided Clase entered the game and recorded the first two outs. However, Clase’s defense attorney, Todd Spodek, argued that the term was misconstrued, noting that references to roosters and chickens in communications with Pena often related to cockfighting, a legal activity in Clase’s native Dominican Republic. Spodek summarized the defense’s position, stating, “Our defense is the same today as it was in opening: This is a case about big talk and small bets. We’re confident leaving that judgment to the jury.”
De Aza Baez also addressed the continuity of the alleged information network. He noted that when he inquired about Clase’s pitches in the following season, the flow of information stopped. “What was going on with [Shohei] Ohtani, there was no more information like that,” de Aza Baez testified. This comment references the period in March 2024 when MLB slugger Shohei Ohtani faced scrutiny after millions of dollars were transferred from his bank account to an illegal bookmaking operation. Ohtani’s longtime interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, pleaded guilty to stealing nearly $17 million from Ohtani to pay gambling debts. Ohtani was cleared of any wrongdoing in that separate matter, and Mizuhara is currently incarcerated.
Testimony from Bo Naylor, the former Guardians catcher who was behind the plate for the allegedly rigged pitches, was presented on Thursday. Naylor testified that he appeared to call one of the alleged rigged pitches shown to the court, specifically a slider away to St. Louis Cardinals’ Pedro Pages, which he viewed as a weakness. Naylor stated he was unaware that bettors could wager on specific pitches during games. The court also heard that Naylor had frequently seen Clase using his cellular phone in the locker room, a practice prosecutors allege may have violated MLB rules regarding communication with gamblers during games.
Clase, who was one of baseball’s top closers, posted a 1.21 ERA in the 2024 season and finished third in the American League Cy Young voting. However, his ERA rose to 3.80 in 2025 by the time of his investigation. De Aza Baez agreed to forfeit $69,000 in proceeds won from bets involving Clase as part of his cooperation agreement with the federal government, in which he committed to “tell the truth” in exchange for the dropping of the wire fraud charge.
The legal proceedings continue in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The next steps involve the completion of testimony from the remaining government and defense witnesses before the case is submitted to the jury for deliberation on the counts of conspiracy, sports bribery, and money laundering.
