Guardians’ Luis Ortiz releases statement declaring his innocence on gambling charges, vows to fight in court

Ortiz’s attorney, Chris Georgalis, released a statement Sunday saying his client is innocent of the charges related to the two pitches he threw, and vowing to fight the case.

“He has never, and would never improperly influence a game — not for anyone and not for anything.”

Georgalis described his client as a “fierce competitor” and said that those who have played the game alongside him know that he has always given his best effort in every inning of every game. He also indicated that the government’s investigation, including conversations with Ortiz’s teammates, support this claim.

Prior to the charges against Ortiz and Clase being filed, payments and other transfers of money between Ortiz and individuals in the Dominican Republic were made for “lawful activities,” Georgalis said.

“Notably, the indictment lacks any alleged evidence connecting Luis to these alleged bettors or demonstrating any purposeful involvement in a scheme,” Georgalis’ statement reads.

Prosecutors outlined in the indictment how Ortiz and Clase made arrangements with co-conspirators on specific pitches they would throw in MLB games. The co-conspirators then used that information to place hundreds of fraudulent bets on those pitches.

According to the filing:

• Around June 2025, Ortiz joined the scheme that Clase had already been a part of as early as 2023. He agreed in advance to throw balls instead of strikes on pitches in two games in exchange for bribes and kickbacks.
• Before a game on June 15, 2025, prosecutors say Ortiz agreed with co-conspirators to throw a ball on a particular pitch in exchange for a $5,000 bribe, while Clase received $5,000 for arranging the rigged pitch.
• Before a game on June 27, 2025, Ortiz agreed to rig a second pitch for a $7,000 bribe, with Clase receiving another $7,000 for arranging it.
• Before the June 27 game, Clase withdrew $50,000 in cash and provided $15,000 to a co-conspirator, who used the money to wager on Ortiz’s rigged pitch during the game. Ortiz allegedly caused his co-conspirator bettors to win at least $60,000 in fraudulent wagers.

Georgalis’ statement declared that Ortiz never knowingly did anything wrong, and that his client looks forward to fighting the charges in court.

“There is no credible evidence Luis knowingly did anything other than try to win games with every pitch and in every inning,” Georgalis said. “The government’s case is weak and circumstantial. He will defend himself and he will be (sic) prevail.”