MLB extends paid leave for Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz amid gambling investigation
Ortiz is the subject of a gambling investigation, multiple sources told The Athletic earlier this month. He was originally placed on leave on July 3, when he was scheduled to start for the Guardians against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Instead, he flew back to Cleveland the night before when the team was informed of the news.
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Ortiz's leave was set to expire Friday before the extension.
'We have been informed of the extension and will continue to fully cooperate with the investigation,' the Guardians said in a statement Friday.
Ortiz is permitted to have contact with the organization, but he is prohibited from visiting Progressive Field or any other Guardians facility. One team official said the club was approaching the situation as if Ortiz were injured, with no timetable for return. At the start of the week, the Guardians mapped out their rotation coming out of the All-Star break, and Ortiz was not included. He has not pitched since June 27.
A year ago, MLB punished five players for varying gambling offenses, including a lifetime ban for San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano, who wagered on his own team, even though he didn't appear in any of the games in which he placed bets. Four other players received a one-year suspension.
Ortiz's situation might be different, though. The league is examining whether Ortiz was pre-determining the outcome of certain pitches, based on betting patterns that were flagged by a betting integrity firm. According to ESPN, two particular pitches from June are in question. In both instances, Ortiz missed the strike zone with a first-pitch slider.
Rule 21d(2) in the MLB handbook states: 'Any player, umpire or club or league official or employee who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has a duty to perform, shall be declared permanently ineligible.' Rule 21d(3) states: 'Any player, umpire or club or league official or employee who places bets with illegal book makers or agents for illegal book makers, shall be subject to such penalty as the Commissioner deems appropriate in light of the facts and circumstances of the conduct.'
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The league office declined to comment on anything related to the investigation.
The Guardians traded second baseman Andrés Giménez to the Toronto Blue Jays in November in a three-team arrangement that brought Ortiz to Cleveland. The Guardians acquired who they hoped could become a pillar of their rotation. Ortiz signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates as a 19-year-old international free agent in 2018, and he enjoyed a breakout season with them in 2024, with a 3.32 ERA across 135 2/3 innings.
This season, Ortiz has been up and down, showing some flashes of brilliance. In his penultimate start against the Athletics on June 21, he struck out 10 over six scoreless frames.
Ortiz is under the Guardians' control through the 2029 season. He is earning the league minimum of about $760,000 this year.
Legalized sports betting and its omnipresent advertising have become common topics across the sport in recent years, either because of cases involving Ortiz or Marcano, or frustrated gamblers levying threats toward players.
'They surround us so much with so many advertisements, so many opportunities,' Detroit Tigers pitcher Casey Mize told The Athletic at this week's All-Star Game festivities. 'It's just too close to us and too accessible. It makes me fearful for some guys that might get confused or accidentally click a button or whatever without even meaning to.'
'I think no matter where you are,' said Tampa Bay Rays infielder Brandon Lowe, 'there's gonna be one person that does things the wrong way and 99 percent that do it the right way.'
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