American professional sports are dealing with another player-related gambling probe.
According to a report from The Athletic, Cleveland Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz is being investigated by MLB for a matter related to gambling. Ortiz, a 26-year-old who spent last season with the Pittsburgh Pirates, has been placed on “non-disciplinary paid leave.”
Ortiz’s leave will run through the end of the MLB All-Star break, which concludes July 15. The Dominican Republic native was scheduled to pitch in a game on Thursday against the Chicago Cubs. As a result of his leave, the Guardians made roster changes.
“The Guardians have been notified by Major League Baseball that Luis Ortiz has been placed on leave per an agreement with the Players Association due to an ongoing league investigation,” said the team in a statement. “The Guardians are not permitted to comment further at this time and will respect the league’s confidential investigative process.”
MLB reportedly won’t comment on the matter until the league concludes its investigation.
Gambling issues across MLB
Ortiz being under investigation adds to the gambling-related woes for MLB.
Last year, former Los Angeles Dodgers interpreter Ippei Mizuhara was fired after stealing over $15 million from MLB superstar Shohei Ohtani to cover gambling losses.
Mizuhara pleaded guilty to federal bank and tax fraud charges for illegally siphoning money from Ohtani’s accounts. As a result, he was sentenced to 57 months in prison. Mizuhara, who reported to prison last month, is ordered to pay Ohtani $17 million in restitution.
Former San Diego Padres utility player Tucupita Marcano received a lifetime MLB ban in 2024 after an investigation found he placed more than 200 wagers on league games.
The probe found Marcano wagered more than $85,000 on MLB games in just over one year.
A group of minor league players received one-year suspensions in 2024 for wagering on MLB games while with their organization’s affiliates while MLB umpire Pat Hoberg was fired after the league launched a probe into alleged gambling. The probe found that he allowed a professional poker player and friend to use a sportsbook account registered in his name.
Hoberg, who became a full-time MLB umpire in 2017, filed an appeal after being temporarily dismissed from calling games. MLB held its decision to fire him.
