Opening statements are set to begin on Wednesday, Nov. 4 in the pitch-fixing trial of Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis L. Ortiz.
Jury selection in the trial was completed on Tuesday after a lengthy two-day process.
Clase and Ortiz, who will be tried together, have pleaded not guilty to conspiracy, fraud and bribery charges. Both men are accused of throwing certain pitches at predetermined times to benefit gamblers, with more than $450,000 in wagers alleged.
The players were put on non-disciplinary paid leave in July 2025 when the allegations first surfaced and were shifted to unpaid leave in March.
Here's what to know about the trial.
Who could be called as witnesses in the trial?
Several teammates of Clase and Ortiz could potentially be called as witnesses during the trial,
which is expected to last three weeks. Among them, according to The Athletic: Guardians pitching coach Carl Willis and catchers Austin Hedges, Bo Naylor and Mike Zunino, among others.
Guardians general manager Mike Chernoff, as well as other front-office personnel, could also be called to the stand. Officials from Major League Baseball and DraftKings are additional possibilities, according to ESPN.
How did the MLB gambling scheme allegedly work?
The indictment alleges bettors wagered on the speed and type of pitches thrown by Clase, and later Ortiz as well, based on information they knew in advance by coordinating with Clase, sometimes even during MLB games. Clase often threw these rigged pitches on the first pitch of an at-bat when he entered the game in relief, according to the investigation. To ensure certain pitches were called as balls, Clase allegedly threw sliders rather than fastballs or cutters, with many of them ending up in the dirt and well outside the strike zone.
Clase, a three-time All-Star and one of the top closers in the majors at the time of his suspension, has been accused of rigging at least 18 pitches in 17 games from May 19, 2023, to May 28, 2025.
The bettors used the inside information that Clase provided about his future pitches to wager thousands of dollars on more than 100 pitch speed and ball/hit by pitch prop bets and parlays at online sportsbooks, according to investigators. Ortiz allegedly joined Clase in the conspiracy to rig pitches during the 2025 MLB season, with the two pitchers receiving kickbacks and bribes, or placing bets for themselves by proxy in certain instances.
Ortiz is accused of manipulating two pitches in two Guardians games in June 2025, according to the indictment.
What punishment could Clase and Ortiz face?
If convicted on all four charges, Clase and Ortiz could both face up to 65 years in federal prison. They could also be hit with a lifetime ban from baseball for betting on MLB games and, in Clase's case, allegedly using a cell phone during games.
Emmanuel Clase contract details
Emmanuel Clase, 28, signed a five-year, $20 million contract extension with the Cleveland Guardians in April 2022.
He was paid under that contract through the end of the 2025 season. At the start of the 2026 season, Clase was moved to unpaid non-disciplinary leave until his contract expired at the end of the season. He was scheduled to make $6.4 million this past season.
According to Roster Resource, the Guardians owe Clase a $2 million buyout for 2027, which would make him a free agent this offseason pending the result of his trial.
Contributing: Mark Giannotto
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pitch-rigging trial begins for Guardians' Emmanuel Clase, Luis Ortiz
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