Witness Says Clase Pitch Tips Dried Up After the Ohtani Gambling Scandal

Clase and Ortiz Trial Testimony on Inside Pitch Information

A government witness testified Friday in the federal trial of Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, ESPN reported. Luis de Aza Baez said he placed dozens of bets on the velocity of select Clase pitches in 2023 "because I had inside information," and won thousands of dollars.

He said the tips ended in 2024. When he asked for more, he was told that because of the Ohtani situation there was no more information like that. ESPN reports that Clase is accused of conspiring with bettors to rig 18 pitches over three seasons.

This is a case about big talk and small bets.

De Aza Baez said he never got information directly from Clase, only from Enoc Pena, an associate. He said he opened a DraftKings account in his wife's name to raise his limits, and put some Clase bets in parlays. He agreed to forfeit $69,000 in winnings and to "tell the truth" in exchange for prosecutors dropping a wire fraud charge. Clase, Ortiz and Vasquez have pleaded not guilty. The trial resumes Thursday in Brooklyn.

Prop Betting Integrity: What the Testimony Shows

These are one witness's claims, made under a cooperation deal, and the defense disputes the reading of messages about chickens and roosters, which it ties to legal cockfighting in the Dominican Republic.

Our Read: Why Single-Pitch Markets Draw Attention

• Small markets are fragile. A bet on one pitch depends on a single player's action, so one informed person can matter far more than in a point spread.
• Scrutiny changed behavior, per the witness. His account is that the information stopped after the Ohtani case. That is testimony, not proof, and we would treat it as one data point on how enforcement pressure works.
• The case is unproven. The jury has not ruled, the witness has a deal, and the defense says the bets were small. The evidence can be read both ways.
• Limits are the lever. The detail about opening an account in a spouse's name to bet bigger is a reminder that limits and account checks sit at the center of prop integrity.

What to Watch in the Clase Trial

• Cross-examination of De Aza Baez on his cooperation deal.
• Whether prosecutors tie the messages directly to specific pitches.
• The defense's explanation of the chicken and rooster texts.
• Any further moves by sportsbooks or leagues on pitch-level prop limits.

Read our sports betting guide

Gambling carries risk of loss. Set limits before you play, and bet only where it is legal.

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