Government witness says Shohei Ohtani scandal dried up inside betting info on Emmanuel Clase's pitches

Witness describes betting tips

Luis de Aza Baez testified Friday in New York that he placed dozens of bets on the speed of Clase’s pitches in 2023 and won thousands. He said he bet because he had inside information, according to ESPN. De Aza Baez, who was working as an Uber driver, said Enoc Pena shared tips in a group chat called “Uber Inc.” Pena, an associate of Clase, had started the chat with Massachusetts-area Uber workers, according to the testimony.

Information stopped the next year

When asked about Clase’s pitches the following season, de Aza Baez said the tips were no longer available. He testified: “What was going on with [Shohei] Ohtani, there was no more information like that.” The testimony did not explain further what Ohtani’s situation had to do with the change in information. De Aza Baez said he never received pitch information directly from Clase, only from Pena.

Text message shown in court

Prosecutors presented a screenshot of a message Clase allegedly sent Pena on Sept. 30, 2023, before Cleveland was scheduled to play Detroit. The two discussed “killing the first two chickens,” described in court as code for betting on a pitch to the third batter if Clase entered and recorded the first two outs.

Clase did not appear in the game, which Detroit won 8-0. De Aza Baez and Clase were friends and had been seen playing dominoes at a relative’s home, but the witness said the pitcher never gave him tips directly.

Federal case continues

The testimony came as the federal trial involving Clase and Luis Ortiz continued. The two Guardians pitchers were indicted in a federal gambling probe on Nov. 9, 2025.