Sports
Guardians pitchers plead not guilty in pitch-rigging case
Jul 22, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Emmanuel Clase (48) reacts after a win over the Baltimore Orioles at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images A scheduled spring trial for Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz accused of colluding with sports bettors on an alleged pitch-rigging scheme likely will be postponed until October.
U.S. District Court Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto said she ultimately will move the trial to the fall after Clase and Ortiz pleaded not guilty through a translator to a rewritten indictment on Wednesday in a Brooklyn federal court.
The parties were instructed to discuss a new trial date and submit their proposal by end of day Monday.
As it stands, the trial date remains slated for May 4.
The rewritten indictment accused Clase of using code words related to roosters and chickens when dealing with co-conspirators. It also alleged that Clase rigged a pitch to the first batter he faced — Detroit’s Matt Vierling — in Game 1 of the 2024 American League Division Series. He bounced that pitch before striking out Vierling.
Clase and Ortiz, who are free on bail, were indicted on charges including wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy and conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery on Nov. 9.
Ortiz pled not guilty the next day while Clase was taken into custody Nov. 13 at JFK Airport in New York, pleading not guilty that same day.
The prosecution alleged that Clase and Ortiz accepted thousands of dollars in bribes to help a pair of gamblers in their native country of the Dominican Republic win at least $460,000 placed on the speed of their pitches and whether they will be strikes or balls.
Clase, 27, is a two-time AL Reliever of the Year and a three-time All-Star. He has 21-26 record with a 1.88 ERA and 182 saves over six seasons, the last five of which came while pitching for the Guardians.
Ortiz, 27, was traded to Cleveland ahead of the 2025 season. He has a 4.05 ERA over 75 appearances (50 starts) spanning four major league seasons.
Both pitchers have been on non-disciplinary paid leave since July.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Two Georgia football players arrested on reckless driving charges
Nov 28, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Chris Cole (9) tackles Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets tight end Brett Seither (80) in the fourth quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Georgia linebackers Chris Cole and Darren Ikinnagbon were arrested Wednesday on driving-related charges.
Cole was booked at 9:59 p.m. ET at the Athens-Clarke County jail on misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and speeding-maximum limits. He was released at 10:39 p.m. on bonds totaling $26.
Cole had a team-high 4.5 sacks last season and is a projected starter in 2026.
Ikinnagbon, a rising sophomore who played five games as a true freshman in 2025, was booked less than 30 minutes later at 10:27 p.m. on misdemeanor charges of reckless driving, following too closely and speeding-maximum limits. He was released at 11:08 p.m. on bonds totaling $39.
“We are aware of the charges and are actively gathering additional information. As this is an ongoing legal matter, we will not be providing further comment at this time,” a Georgia sports information representative said in a statement.
This continues what has been a years-long issue of reckless driving troubles within the Georgia football program.
Georgia football player Devin Willock and recruiting staff member Chandler LeCroy were killed in a high-speed crash in January 2023, and three members of the team were arrested on driving charges in 2025.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Drew Rasmussen named Opening Day starter by Rays
Sep 13, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Drew Rasmussen (57) pitches against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images The Tampa Bay Rays will hand the ball to right-hander Drew Rasmussen on Opening Day.
Manager Kevin Cash told reporters Thursday at spring training in Port Charlotte, Fla., that it was “a pretty easy call” to start Rasmussen against the Cardinals in St. Louis on March 26.
Rasmussen finished the 2025 season with a 10-5 record and a 2.76 ERA in 31 starts. He was selected to the American League All-Star team.
The 30-year-old is a story of perseverance.
He was put on the 60-day injured list with an elbow injury in May 2023 and returned to the Rays in August 2024 after undergoing his third major elbow surgery.
Rasmussen has a career record of 30-17 in 130 appearances (81 starts) and two saves with the Brewers (2020-21) and Rays, who acquired him in the May 2021 trade that sent Willy Adames to Milwaukee.
Other likely members of the starting rotation are Shane McClanahan, Steven Matz, Ryan Pepiot and Nick Martinez.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Cooper Flagg's jersey from NBA debut sells for $1M
Oct 22, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) dribbles the ball as San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) and San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson (3) chase during the first half at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images Cooper Flagg’s game-worn jersey from the first half of his Dallas Mavericks debut sold privately for $1 million earlier this month through Sotheby’s, the company announced Thursday.
The amount broke the record for the most expensive NBA debut jersey solid in the same season. San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama’s jersey from his debut game in 2023 sold for $762,000.
Ironically, Flagg’s NBA debut came against Wembanyana and the Spurs on Oct. 22. He collected 10 points and 10 rebounds in Dallas’ 125-92 loss to San Antonio.
“I think people see Flagg with the potential for an American icon,” said Brahm Wachter, head of modern collectibles at Sotheby’s. “I’m not quite sure that, at least in my time handling sort of young rookie memorabilia, that I’ve seen anything quite like this demand since LeBron (James).”
Flagg, 19, leads all rookies with an average of 20.4 points per game. He also is producing 6.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 49 games (all starts) this season since being selected by the Mavericks with the top overall pick of the 2025 NBA Draft out of Duke.
Flagg’s 49-point performance in a home loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Jan. 29 broke the NBA record for the highest-scoring outing by a teen.
The most expensive jersey sold from an NBA rookie season belongs to Michael Jordan. An autographed 1984 Chicago Bulls jersey worn during Jordan’s rookie year sold through Sotheby’s for $4.2 million in March 2025.
–Field Level Media
Two Georgia football players arrested on reckless driving charges
Drew Rasmussen named Opening Day starter by Rays
