At the heart of baseball lies integrity; it’s what keeps the game honest and alive. But now that very heart has been rattled. In a twist no one saw coming, a gambling scandal has rocked the league, and Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz is right at the center of it. “Not something we were expecting,” said Guardians President Chris Antonetti. But really, who expects a player to gamble on the very game they’re meant to respect above all else? It’s a breach that cuts deep, and no one feels the weight of that shame more than the players themselves.
Ortiz is currently under MLB’s investigation for his alleged betting activities, linked to two wild pitches he threw last month. He was placed on paid non-disciplinary leave by the team just before he was scheduled to start against the Cubs on Thursday. And everyone knows what’s waiting for him if he’s found guilty. It’s definitely troubling to see young players caught up in gambling scandals, and former Major League catcher AJ Pierzynski didn’t hold back his frustration.
“Don’t bet on baseball, that’s it,” Pierzynski said on his show, Foul Territory, in conversation with Erik Kratz. He used the moment to remind players what they’ve signed up for. “And as far as Article 21 goes, Kratz, they read it to you, and they make sure you sign something. It says, ‘Don’t bet on baseball.’ When you walk into the clubhouse, it says, ‘Don’t bet on baseball, please.’” He didn’t mince words while shutting down any silly excuses. “Don’t give me like, people aren’t educated. You’re not educated because you didn’t pay attention. If you’re not educated, it’s because you don’t care, and you just don’t care about breaking the rules,” Pierzynski continued.
“You’re not educated because you didn’t pay attention.”@AJPierzynski12 didn’t hold back on players who’ve bet on baseball. pic.twitter.com/HXprBXsY7w
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) July 6, 2025
He’s not wrong. MLB’s rules are crystal clear, and this isn’t something to be taken lightly or brushed aside. The consequences of such decisions, from players who’ve dedicated their whole lives to the sport, are costly. Remember Tucupita Marcano’s case? The Padres infielder received a lifetime ban after being involved in baseball-related bets just last season. The precedent set by that case could work against any hope of leniency for the 26-year-old Ortiz.
The consequences when a player chooses this path are irreversible and devastating. And maybe this is just the tip of the iceberg, a sign of a deeper, growing issue beneath the surface. Concern is spreading fast across the MLB.
MLB rocked as Luis Ortiz scandal comes to light
An 87 mph slider to the Mariners’ Randy Arozarena on June 15 and an opening slider to the Cardinals’ Pedro Pagés on June 27—those were the two wayward pitches that triggered alerts from betting integrity firm IC360, sparking swirling doubts around the integrity of the game. It’s true that teams and players make a whole lot of money from gambling sponsorships, but to bet on your own game? That crosses every line. It’s not every day that faith in a baseball game is shaken to its core, but Ortiz’s situation makes it hard not to worry.
USA Today’s Bob Nightengale wrote about growing concerns among team executives about the gambling issue. He shared his conversation with one MLB GM: “We talk about it all of the time,” the GM told Nightengale, adding, “and we’d be naive to think nothing is going on. It’s getting scary.” Well—it really is scary.
With new real-time betting apps popping up daily, there’s no denying the growing influence of gambling on professional sports, and MLB is no exception. It’s one of the darkest sides of the sport. Remember the Pete Rose scandal? It ruined a legend’s reputation and still continues to stain the image of Major League Baseball. As for Luis Ortiz’s future, even if he comes out clean after the investigation, the stain of such an allegation is often enough to tarnish your image forever.
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