MLB star Luis Ortiz pleads not guilty to rigging pitches as his partner stands by his side at Brooklyn courthouse

Cleveland Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz has pleaded not guilty to charges that he was part of a plot to rig bets during Major League Baseball games.

Alongside fellow Guardians star Emmanuel Clase, Ortiz is accused of taking bribes from bettors to throw certain types of pitches, including tossing balls in the dirt instead of strikes.

According to the indictment, unsealed Sunday in federal court in Brooklyn, they took several thousand dollars in payoffs to help two unnamed gamblers from their native Dominican Republic win at least $460,000 on in-game bets on the speed and outcome of certain pitches.

Ortiz’s lawyer, Elizabeth Geddes, entered the plea of not guilty at a hearing in Brooklyn on Wednesday. He was released on a $500,000 bond and is due back in court on December 2.

Conditions of his bond include location monitoring and a ban on any form of gambling, while Ortiz’s travel is restricted to New York City, Long Island, Massachusetts and Ohio. His wife is acting as suretor.

Ortiz was arrested was arrested Sunday by the FBI at Boston Logan International Airport. He and Clase were charged on multiple counts including wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy and bribery.

Cleveland Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz arrives for his arraignment in Brooklyn, New York

Ortiz is accused by the Department of Justice of rigging bets on pitches during MLB games

Police officers pave a way for the Cleveland Guardians pitcher as he heads into court

The following day, Ortiz appeared in a federal courtroom in Boston and on Wednesday, Ortiz and his wife arrived for an arraignment in Brooklyn. Ortiz, who wore a black shirt under a black leather jacket, refused to comment.

Clase is slated to be arraigned Thursday before the same judge, Magistrate Judge Marutollo. 

Both Ortiz and Clase have been on non-disciplinary paid leave since July, when MLB started investigating what it said was unusually high in-game betting activity when they pitched. Some of the games in question were in April, May and June. 

The pitchers ‘betrayed America’s pastime,’ US Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr said. ‘Integrity, honesty and fair play are part of the DNA of professional sports. 

‘When corruption infiltrates the sport, it brings disgrace not only to the participants but damages the public trust in an institution that is vital and dear to all of us.’

Ortiz’s lawyer, Chris Georgalis, said in a statement that his client was innocent and ‘has never, and would never, improperly influence a game – not for anyone and not for anything.’

US Magistrate Judge Donald Cabell in Boston had earlier granted him his release but with several conditions, including that he surrender his passport, restrict his travel to the Northeast and post a $500,000 bail, $50,000 of it secured. 

He also was ordered to avoid contact with anyone who could be viewed as a victim, a witness or a co-defendant in the case. 

Ortiz is one of two Cleveland pitchers accused of rigging bets placed on pitches in MLB games

Ortiz made an earlier appearance at a federal court in Boston and left wearing a blue tracksuit

Fellow Guardians star Emmanuel Clase has been charged, but is not in US custody

Earlier this week, Major League Baseball and its sportsbook partners announced a new $200 nationwide betting limit on individual pitches while banning those wagers from parlays to disincentivize potential bad actors.

Included in sportsbooks’ menu of prop bets are lines on single pitches. Betters can wager on whether that pitch will be called a ball or a strike and whether it will be above or below a certain velocity on the radar gun. These bets may also inadvertently incentivize gamblers to conspire with players. 

MLB’s announcement came after federal prosecutors claimed to have identified the  scheme allegedly involving Ortiz and Clase. 

The scheme generated around $450,000 for gamblers, according to prosecutors.