Federal Testimony Links Shohei Ohtani Scandal to Silence in Guardians Pitch-Rigging Scheme
During the federal trial of pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz in Brooklyn on Friday, a government witness testified that inside betting tips on specific pitches abruptly dried up in 2024 because runners and middlemen grew terrified of federal scrutiny following the gambling scandal involving Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter, ESPN reported. Luis de Aza Baez, an Uber driver who admitted to placing illegal wagers, told prosecutors that a lucrative information pipeline supplying advance word on Clase’s pitches completely shut down as federal investigators began unearthing millions in illicit transfers tied to the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar.
The trial centers on allegations that Clase and Ortiz manipulated individual deliveries in exchange for financial kickbacks. Prosecutors claim Clase used code words like “chickens” and “roosters” in text messages to signal specific pitch outcomes—such as throwing a ball or a slower slider instead of a 100-mph cutter—while operating alongside co-defendant Robinson Vasquez Germosen. All three defendants have pleaded not guilty to charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, honest services fraud, sports bribery, and money laundering.
How the Ride-Share Betting Ring Operated in 2023
De Aza Baez outlined how he gained access to insider information starting in April 2023, after being introduced to Clase by associate Enoc Pena and Vasquez Germosen at a birthday party, according to nypost.com. Following that meeting, De Aza Baez received tips regarding Clase’s upcoming pitches through a group chat titled “Uber Inc.” that included several other drivers.
The witness acknowledged under questioning that he “almost always” won his bets using the inside data. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Urquiola told jurors during opening statements that the defendants treated baseball games as pre-arranged outcomes, allegedly rigging at least 18 pitches between May 2023 and May 2025. Meanwhile, Ortiz is accused of rigging two separate pitches in June 2025 against the Mariners and Cardinals for a $5,000 kickback, truegritsports.com reported.
Why the Inside Tips Dried Up During the 2024 Season
When De Aza Baez attempted to secure similar betting tips ahead of the 2024 Major League Baseball season, his contacts delivered a stark warning. According to truegritsports.com, he was told that due to what was happening with Shohei Ohtani, “there was no more information like that.”
The market for insider pitch data collapsed not because of internal league compliance algorithms or anti-corruption units, but because runners grew spooked by the federal investigation into Ohtani’s accounts. In March 2024, revelations emerged that millions of dollars flowed from Ohtani’s bank account to an illegal bookmaking scheme. Ohtani’s interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, subsequently pleaded guilty to stealing nearly $17 million from the three-time MVP to cover mounting gambling debts. Mizuhara is currently serving a 57-month prison sentence, and federal authorities cleared Ohtani of any wrongdoing.
Defense Attorneys Reject Sports Bribery Characterization
As part of a cooperation agreement with the government, De Aza Baez agreed to forfeit $69,000 in illegal gambling winnings and testify truthfully in exchange for prosecutors dropping a related wire fraud charge. DraftKings special investigations director Joel Trella also walked jurors through betting accounts that showed heavy volume on Clase’s specific pitches.
Defense attorneys reject the government’s characterization of their clients as active participants in sports bribery. Todd Spodek, an attorney for Vasquez, told ESPN after Friday’s proceedings that the litigation amounts to “big talk and small bets,” adding that the defense is content leaving the ultimate verdict to the jury. Michael Bronson, an attorney for Clase, argued that Pena was an admitted gambling addict and serial liar who manipulated Clase’s friendship to use the pitcher as a mark.
The federal trial resumes Thursday in Brooklyn federal court.
Keep reading