MLB Player's Leave Extended Amid Gambling Investigation

Cleveland Guardians right-handed pitcher Luis Ortiz's non-disciplinary paid leave will be extended through August 31 amid an ongoing investigation by Major League Baseball into alleged gambling, the team confirmed in a statement shared on their social media accounts Friday (July 18).

"MLB and the MLBPA have agreed to extend Luis Ortiz's non-disciplinary paid leave through games on August 31 while MLB continues its investigation," the Guardians said. "We have been informed of the extension and will continue to fully cooperate with the investigation."

The betting-integrity firm IC360 sent an alert in June to sportsbook operators regarding Ortiz over a pair of pitches that had received unusual gambling activity, sources with knowledge of the situation confirmed to ESPN's David Purdum and Jeff Passan on July 3. The alert reportedly referenced Ortiz's first pitches in select innings during the June 15 game against the Seattle Mariners and the June 27 game against the St. Louis Cardinals, with Ortiz throwing a first-pitch slider well outside the strike zone at the top of the third inning in both games.

The alert flagged a suspicious amount of bets on Ortiz to throw a first pitch ball (or a hit batsman) in Ohio, New York and New Jersey. The pitcher's "non-disciplinary paid leave" was set to expire as of Thursday (July 17) prior to the extension.

Ortiz's paid leave was negotiated between Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association and could be extended past the conclusion of the All-Star break if the investigation remains open.

"The Guardians have been notified that Luis Ortiz has been placed on leave per an agreement with the Players Association due to an ongoing league investigation," the Guardians said in a statement obtained by ESPN at the time. "The Guardians are not permitted to comment further at this time and will respect the league's confidential investigative process."