Backstreet Boys Dance and Rigged Pitch Allegations in Clase Trial

At the Emmanuel Clase trial in federal court in Brooklyn, prosecutors showed numerous clips of Clase spending relaxed moments with his friends, including a video in which a popular boy band's song was playing. Cleveland Guardians pitchers Clase and Luis Ortiz are on trial on charges related to rigging pitches. All three have denied the charges.

In one of the videos, Clase is seen drinking Presidente from the bottle while playing a board game. During the May 19 game in May 2023, when the Guardians hosted the New York Mets, fans at Citi Field were singing "I Want It That Way," and Clase's friend Paca was seen dancing enthusiastically to the song.

Prosecutors say that same night Clase tried to rig the first extra-inning pitch against Starling Marte. The 98.5 mph cutter passed through the lower part of the zone and was called a ball. Prosecutors allege that some members of the group bet on whether the pitch would exceed 94.5 mph.

FBI Special Agent Ava Barnett testified Thursday about six bets placed on DraftKings in a case built around the 18 rigged pitches prosecutors allege. The bets ranged from a few hundred dollars to $9,500, and all of them won. According to Barnett, the bettors and the people they steered to place bets collected roughly $27,000 in total winnings.

Clase and Ortiz each face at least 20 years in prison. Paca, Clase's former roommate, faces multiple charges, including lying to the FBI, and is being held in custody. Paca is not a defendant in the case. Their friend Enoc Pena is testifying as a cooperating witness who appears to have been granted immunity, and he has become a controversial figure in the case. The trial began on November 4 and is expected to run until early December.