Baseball Celebrates New Stars While Grappling with Match-Fixing Charges
NEW YORK (AP) — Oakland Athletics first baseman Jackson Kurtz and Atlanta Braves catcher Drake Baldwin were named Rookie of the Year in their respective leagues Monday, capping exceptional debut seasons that were overshadowed by federal criminal charges against two Cleveland Guardians pitchers for allegedly rigging pitches to benefit gamblers.
The contrasting storylines – the sport’s promising future versus its integrity crisis – dominated baseball news as the offseason awards season began.
Rookie Excellence
Kurtz, 23, hit .287 with 28 home runs and 94 RBIs for Oakland, becoming the first Athletics player to win the award since Mark McGwire in 1987. He received 24 of 30 first-place votes from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.
“This is something I’ve dreamed about since I was kid,” Kurtz said during a conference call with reporters. “My parents sacrificed everything to help me get here. This is for them.”
Baldwin’s path was less conventional. The 25-year-old wasn’t on Atlanta’s Opening Day roster but forced his way onto the team with a strong spring training. He hit .289 with 19 home runs while throwing out 41% of would-be base stealers – the fifth-best rate in the majors.
“I was just trying to prove I belonged,” Baldwin said. “Nobody expected me to make the team, let alone have the season I had. It feels surreal.”
| Award Details | American League | National League |
| Winner | Jackson Kurtz | Drake Baldwin |
| Team | Oakland Athletics | Atlanta Braves |
| Position | First Base | Catcher |
| Batting Average | .287 | .289 |
| Home Runs | 28 | 19 |
| RBIs | 94 | 73 |
| First-Place Votes | 24 of 30 | 27 of 30 |
Criminal Charges Stun Baseball
Hours before the rookie announcements, federal prosecutors in Cleveland unsealed indictments charging Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase and pitcher Luis Ortiz with wire fraud and pitch rigging. The charges allege they deliberately threw specific pitches at predetermined times to benefit a Las Vegas gambling syndicate.
“This represents a fundamental betrayal of the sport,” U.S. Attorney Rebecca Lurio said at a press conference. “These players accepted money to compromise the integrity of individual plays for the benefit of gamblers.”
The indictment alleges the scheme ran from June 2024 through September 2025, generating more than $14 million in illegal gambling profits. Clase and Ortiz allegedly received $50,000 per game for their participation across 47 games.
Both players pleaded not guilty at their arraignment and were released on $500,000 bail. Their attorneys called the charges “baseless.”
How The Scheme Worked
According to prosecutors, the players received encrypted messages before games specifying which pitches to throw in certain situations. Gamblers would then place large prop bets – side bets on specific in-game events – on those exact outcomes.
Because these bets typically pay high odds (5-to-1 or higher), insider knowledge could generate enormous profits. The indictment claims one $100,000 bet on a specific Clase pitch returned $780,000.
MLB’s integrity monitoring system flagged the suspicious betting patterns in September 2024. Certain prop bets on Cleveland games were hitting at rates that defied statistical probability – as high as 78% when normal success rates are around 15%.
“When we see those kinds of anomalies, we immediately investigate,” said Jessica Randazzo, MLB’s senior vice president for security and integrity. “We brought in federal authorities when we realized the scope.”
The FBI investigation included wiretaps on the players’ phones and monitoring of encrypted messaging apps. Prosecutors say they have recordings of Clase and Ortiz discussing pitches with gambling contacts and bank records showing cryptocurrency payments.
| Investigation Timeline | Key Developments | Agency Involved |
| Sept 2024 | Unusual betting patterns detected | MLB Security |
| Oct 2024 | Internal investigation launched | MLB |
| March 2025 | Federal probe begins | FBI, U.S. Attorney |
| June 2025 | Wiretaps authorized | FBI |
| Nov 10, 2025 | Indictments unsealed | U.S. Attorney Cleveland |
| Nov 11, 2025 | Players arraigned | Federal Court |
New Betting Restrictions
Major League Baseball announced Monday it had reached agreements with major sportsbooks to implement nationwide limits on pitch-by-pitch betting, effective immediately.
The new restrictions ban individual pitch outcome bets, limit prop bet amounts to $5,000, and delay real-time in-game betting by 30 seconds. MLB had faced criticism for aggressively pursuing gambling partnerships without adequate safeguards.
“We should have implemented these restrictions earlier,” Commissioner Rob Manfred said. “The proliferation of micro-bets created opportunities for manipulation. That ends now.”
The moves come as sports betting has exploded nationwide following a 2018 Supreme Court decision striking down the federal ban. Americans legally wagered $119.84 billion on sports last year, with baseball taking significant revenue from gambling partnerships.
MLB’s deal with DraftKings alone is worth $100 million over five years. Critics argue the league prioritized gambling revenue over competitive integrity.
“MLB sold out to the gambling industry and now they’re paying the price,” said Professor Kevin Grier, an economist at the University of Oklahoma who studies sports betting. “They took hundreds of millions without thinking through the consequences.”
Impact on Cleveland
The Cleveland Guardians suspended both players without pay and issued a statement saying they were “shocked and deeply disappointed” by the allegations.
“These allegations, if true, represent a betrayal of everything we stand for,” General Manager Mike Chernoff said. “We pride ourselves on integrity and competing the right way.”
The scandal threatens to damage the franchise’s reputation and financial stability. Season ticket renewals, sponsor relationships and free agent recruiting could all suffer from the association with cheating.
Clase, one of baseball’s elite closers, saved 47 games last season with a 2.23 ERA while earning $4.5 million annually. Ortiz, a middle reliever, made $780,000 – MLB’s minimum salary is $720,000.
The disparity in earnings raises questions about why a highly-paid player like Clase would risk his career. Former FBI agent Brad Garrett, now a private investigator, suggested multiple motivations.
“Sometimes it’s greed, sometimes it’s gambling debts, sometimes it’s ego,” Garrett said. “We won’t know until more facts come out. But $50,000 per game for someone making millions already doesn’t make sense unless there’s more to the story.”
Broader Questions
The scandal has reignited debates about baseball’s relationship with gambling. Some advocates argue the sport should sever all ties with betting companies.
“You can’t serve two masters,” said Jim Bouton Jr., son of the former pitcher. “Either you’re focused on competitive integrity or maximizing gambling revenue. You can’t do both.”
Others contend gambling is inevitable and baseball must learn to coexist with it through better monitoring and enforcement.
“Prohibition doesn’t work,” Grier said. “Americans will bet on sports regardless. The question is whether it happens in regulated markets we can monitor or underground markets where anything goes.”
MLB announced it would enhance player education programs about gambling dangers and increase monitoring of betting markets. The league also plans to hire additional integrity staff and implement stricter protocols for identifying suspicious activity.
Historical Context
The charges represent the most serious threat to baseball’s integrity since the 1919 Black Sox scandal, when eight Chicago White Sox players conspired with gamblers to throw the World Series. All eight received lifetime bans.
The difference here is that the Guardians generally won games where the rigging occurred. The manipulation affected specific plays – individual pitches – rather than game outcomes. Prosecutors argue this distinction is irrelevant.
“Fraud is fraud,” Lurio said. “It doesn’t matter whether the team won or lost. These players compromised the integrity of the competition for personal gain.”
If convicted, Clase and Ortiz face up to 20 years in prison on wire fraud charges, though first-time offenders typically receive much lighter sentences. Federal sentencing guidelines suggest 3-5 years would be more likely.
MLB will likely impose lifetime bans regardless of the criminal case outcome, following the precedent set with Pete Rose, who was banned in 1989 for betting on baseball games while managing the Cincinnati Reds.
Players React
Both rookie award winners were asked repeatedly about the scandal during their media appearances. They gave diplomatic responses while trying to focus on their achievements.
“It’s disappointing to hear,” Kurtz said. “But I’m trying to focus on the positive – my season, my team, what this award means. I can’t control what other people do.”
Baldwin echoed similar sentiments. “We all work hard to compete honestly,” he said. “When people break that trust, it hurts everyone. But we have to move forward and protect the game’s integrity.”
Other players expressed anger and frustration. Yankees ace Gerrit Cole, who serves on the MLB Players Association executive board, called the allegations “disgusting.”
“If these guys did what they’re accused of, they need to be thrown out of baseball permanently,” Cole said. “There’s no place for that.”
What’s Next
The criminal trial likely won’t begin until late 2026, allowing time for discovery and pre-trial motions. Federal prosecutors say their investigation continues and additional charges are possible.
MLB Commissioner Manfred said the league would conduct its own investigation and “take appropriate disciplinary action” once it concludes. That likely means lifetime bans before the criminal case resolves.
For Kurtz and Baldwin, the scandal is an unfortunate backdrop to what should be career-defining moments. Both said they’re focused on preparing for next season and helping their teams compete for championships.
“This award is amazing, and I’m going to enjoy it,” Baldwin said. “But it’s just the beginning. I want to win a World Series. That’s the goal.”
