Cleveland Guardians' pitcher Luis Ortiz pleads not guilty to taking bribes to aid gamblers

Cleveland Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges that he and teammate Emmanuel Clase took bribes to help gamblers win bets placed on pitches they threw.

NEW YORK — Cleveland Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges that he and teammate Emmanuel Clase took bribes to help gamblers win bets placed on pitches they threw.

The 26-year-old starting pitcher appeared in Brooklyn federal court after his initial arrest Sunday at Boston’s Logan International Airport.

He was released on a $500,000 bond until his next court date Nov. 19, and issued GPS monitoring. Ortiz, who has already surrendered his passport to authorities, was also ordered to limit his travel to New York, Massachusetts and Ohio.

The other conditions of his release include no gambling, no possessing firearms or illegal drugs and having no contact with co-conspirators, victims and witnesses.

Ortiz, wearing a black leather jacket and jeans, provided short responses to the judge’s questions in court and didn’t respond to reporters seeking comment as he left the courtroom with his wife and lawyer.