The federal case against Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz has added another notable wrinkle.
During Friday’s federal trial, a government witness testified that the inside information he used to bet on pitches in 2023 had diminished in 2024 amid the gambling scandal surrounding Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter, according to ESPN.
Luis de Aza Baez, an Uber driver, told prosecutors that, starting in 2023, he received information about Clase’s pitches from the pitcher’s big-league associate, Enoc Pena, with the tips coming through a group chat called “Uber Inc.” that included other drivers at the time.
When De Aza Baez tried again during the 2024 season, however, he said he was told that “what was going on with Ohtani, there was no more information like that.”
In March 2024, Ohtani became the center of controversy after reports indicated that millions of dollars had been sent from the superstar’s bank account to an illegal bookmaking scheme.
Ohtani’s interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, later pleaded guilty to stealing just under $17 million from the three-time MVP to pay off gambling debts.
Mizuhara is serving a 57-month prison sentence. Ohtani was cleared of any wrongdoing.
During Friday’s hearing for the Guardians pitchers, De Aza Baez said he was introduced to Clase by Pena and fellow co-defendant Robinson Vasquez Germosen at a birthday party on April 28, 2023.
De Aza Baez clarified that Clase never provided him with information directly, only receiving it through Pena. He acknowledged that he “almost always” won on the reliever’s pitches.
De Aza Baez also said he agreed with the government to forfeit $69,000 in winnings tied to Clase’s performances and would “tell the truth” in exchange for the prosecution dropping a related wire fraud charge.
Clase, Ortiz and Vasquez have pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
“Our defense is the same today as it was in opening: This is a case about big talk and small bets,” Vásquez’s attorney, Todd Spodek, told ESPN after Friday’s hearing. “We’re confident leaving that judgment to the jury.”
The federal trial is scheduled to continue Thursday in Brooklyn.
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