Guardians Luis Ortiz, Emmanuel Clase reportedly banned from Dominican winter ball league amid MLB gambling probe

After missing the second half of the MLB season amid reported gambling probes, Cleveland Guardians pitchers Luis Ortiz and Emmanuel Clase have reportedly been banned from playing winter ball in their native Dominican Republic. 

ESPN's Enrique Rojas reported Monday that the Dominican Professional Baseball League (LIDOM) rejected the registration of both players to play for the Estrellas baseball club. Per the report, MLB doesn't prohibit them from playing winter ball, and the decision was made independent of MLB's actions regarding the players.

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MLB placed Ortiz on leave on July 3 amid an MLB investigation. MLB then placed Clase on "non-disciplinary paid leave" on July 28. The Guardians announced both decisions, but did not provide further details about why they were placed on leave. 

Neither has played since.

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Per multiple reports, including from ESPN, The Athletic and Cleveland.com, they were placed on leave because of investigations into suspicious gambling activity. Per ESPN's Jeff Passan, two pitches thrown by Ortiz in June were flagged by a betting-integrity firm after they received unusual gambling activity.  

One of those pitches was a ball thrown way outside that bounced in the dirt and to the backstop against the St. Louis Cardinals on June 27.

The specifics of the probe into Clase aren't clear, but his placement on leave was announced after the investigation into Ortiz was underway. 

Ortiz started 16 games in his first season with the Guardians this summer before his placement on leave. Clase, a three-time All-Star with the Guardians, was in the midst of another standout season as Cleveland's closer.

The Guardians were in the midst of a then-disappointing campaign with a record below .500 when both players were placed on leave. Without Ortiz and Clase, the Guardians rallied to post an 88-74 record to win the AL Central. They lost in the wild-card round to the division rival Detroit Tigers. 

While the Guardians were in the playoffs, Ortiz and Clase were both in the Dominican Republic preparing to play for Estrellas.

Now neither will. And their baseball futures remain uncertain as MLB has yet to announce a conclusion into the investigation of either player.