A witness in the federal trial of Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz testified Friday that the flow of insider information for betting on pitches dwindled in 2024, a period that also saw the gambling scandal surrounding Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani and his former interpreter, ESPN reported.
Luis de Aza Baez, an Uber driver, told prosecutors that beginning in 2023, he received information about Clase's pitches from an associate of the pitcher, Enoc Pena. These tips were communicated through a group chat titled “Uber Inc.,” which included other drivers at the time. However, when De Aza Baez attempted to obtain similar information during the 2024 season, he was informed that "what was going on with Ohtani, there was no more information like that."
In March 2024, Ohtani became embroiled in controversy after reports surfaced of millions of dollars being transferred from his bank account to an illegal bookmaking operation. Ohtani's former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, later pleaded guilty to stealing nearly $17 million from the three-time MVP to cover gambling debts. Mizuhara is currently serving a 57-month sentence, while Ohtani was cleared of any wrongdoing.
De Aza Baez testified that he was introduced to Clase by Pena and co-defendant Robinson Vasquez Germosen at a birthday party on April 28, 2023. While Clase himself did not provide the information directly, De Aza Baez stated that he received it through Pena and that he "almost always" won bets based on the reliever's pitches.
De Aza Baez also agreed to forfeit $69,000 in winnings linked to Clase's performances and to testify truthfully in exchange for the prosecution dropping a related wire fraud charge. Clase, Ortiz, and Vasquez have pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Clase's attorney, Paul Perea, told ESPN that the defense maintains this is a case of "big talk and small bets." The federal trial is ongoing in Brooklyn.