Tucupita Marcano Under Investigation For Betting On Baseball

Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano is underneath investigation by Main League Baseball for betting on baseball whereas a member of the Pirates, based on a report from Jared Diamond and Lindsey Adler of The Wall Street Journal. Marcano is dealing with a lifetime ban. 4 different gamers are underneath investigation for betting on baseball whereas within the minor leagues as effectively, although the identities of these others aren’t recognized. The report provides that there’s no proof at this level of video games being manipulated.

Marcano, 24, was positioned on the injured listing by the Pirates in July of final yr and ultimately underwent surgical procedure to restore the anterior cruciate ligament in his proper knee. The Padres claimed him off waivers in November and he has been on the injured listing for all of 2024 up to now, nonetheless recovering from that surgical procedure.

Per the report from Diamond and Adler, Marcano “has been accused of betting on video games involving the Pittsburgh Pirates final season whereas he was on the injured listing for that staff.” Per the report, the league and the MLB Gamers’ Affiliation are nonetheless discussing Marcano’s final punishment however, as talked about, a lifetime ban is on the desk. Marcano, the league and the union all declined to remark for the piece, although the Padres launched a press release:

“We’re conscious of an energetic investigation by Main League Baseball concerning a matter that occurred when the participant in query was a member of one other group and never affiliated with the San Diego Padres. We won’t have any additional remark till the investigative course of has been accomplished.”

Brian Warecki, Pirates’ senior vp of Communications, additionally issued a press release, relayed by Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Publish-Gazette on X. “We’re conscious of the matter that’s underneath investigation and are absolutely cooperating. We’ll chorus from additional remark at the moment.”

As relayed by the WSJ piece, the league’s playing coverage is prominently displayed in all clubhouses. Baseball gamers are legally allowed to wager on different sports activities however not on baseball. A participant betting on groups apart from his personal faces a one-year suspension however betting on a sport involving his personal staff leads to a lifetime ban.

Playing scandals have been round virtually so long as baseball itself. Most famously, the “Black Sox Scandal” noticed eight members of the 1919 White Sox had been banned for all times after being accused of taking bribes from gamblers to throw that yr’s World Sequence. MLB’s all-time hits chief Pete Rose additionally acquired a lifetime ban in 1989 after accusations that he gambled on the Reds throughout his time as a participant and supervisor.

Extra lately, playing scandals have come again into the highlight, because of a 2018 Supreme Court decision that opened the door for states to legalize the apply. Ippei Mizuhara, the previous interpreter for Shohei Ohtani, is in the process of pleading guilty to financial institution fraud and subscribing to a false tax return in relation to a playing scandal. Up to now, the proof of that case suggests he didn’t wager on baseball. Nevertheless, he did make bets with an unlawful bookmaker in California, the place sports activities betting continues to be unlawful. He’s alleged to have stolen tens of millions of {dollars} from an account in Ohtani’s identify to be able to repay his money owed. David Fletcher of the Braves can also be under investigation for putting bets with the identical bookmaker as Mizuhara, although Fletcher isn’t accused of inserting bets on baseball both. Playing has additionally been a difficulty in different sports activities, with Jontay Porter receiving a ban from the NBA for playing violations whereas taking part in for the Raptors.

Mizuhara and Fletcher each wager on different sports activities in a state the place it’s unlawful, whereas Mizuhara can also be alleged to have dedicated a number of monetary crimes. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred discussed those situations final month and stated the league can be taking a hands-off strategy till the authorized course of performed out.

The Marcano scenario would seem like a special matter. If the accusations are confirmed to be true and he did certainly wager on the Pirates whereas a member of the staff, it will seem like an easy case the place a lifetime ban would be the consequence. Additional particulars on this case, and the circumstances of the opposite 4 gamers, will undoubtedly be forthcoming sooner or later.