Major League Baseball placed Padres infielder/outfielder Tucupita Marcano on the permanent ineligible list Tuesday for violating the league’s sports betting rules and policies. Four other players received one-year bans for other gambling-related violations.
Athletics right-handed pitcher Michael Kelly received a one-year suspension, as did minor leaguers Jay Groom (Padres left-handed pitcher), Jose Rodriguez (Phillies infielder) and Andrew Saalfranc (D-backs left-handed pitcher). The five players were disciplined for violating the league’s gambling policy following investigations by MLB’s Department of Investigation.
Major League Rule 21 states, “Any player, umpire or club or league official or employee who wagers any sum on any baseball game in which the player is obligated to perform shall be declared permanently ineligible.” The law also states that bets on any baseball game “will be declared ineligible for one year in connection with which the player has no obligation to perform.”
None of the five players played in the games they placed bets on, the league said, and all said they had no inside information related to the bets.
According to MLB, the betting data does not indicate that any results were affected, influenced or manipulated in the games played by these players.
“Strict enforcement of Major League Baseball’s rules and policies governing gambling is a vital part of protecting our most important priority: protecting the integrity of our games for fans,” said Commissioner Rob Manfred. “The long-standing prohibition against insider betting on Major League Baseball games has been a fundamental principle for more than a century. We have become clear that the privilege of playing in baseball comes with the responsibility to refrain from engaging in certain types of behavior that are legal for other people.
“Since the Supreme Court decision opened the door to legalized sports betting, we have worked with licensed sports betting operators and other third parties to move ourselves to a higher level of integrity through the transparency that a regulated sports betting system can provide. In pursuit of that goal, it will continue to invest heavily in intensive monitoring, educational programs, and awareness-raising efforts.
None of the players communicate their punishments.
The league’s investigations include interviews, an in-depth review of the information in each case, and extensive cooperation from MLB’s legal sportsbook partners.
In March 2024, legal sports betting operator MLB disclosed that past baseball betting activity had been separated from accounts linked to several major and minor league players. MLB obtained information from that operator and other sportsbooks, including confirmation data for bets.
Betting data shows that from 2022-23, Marcano placed 387 baseball bets, including 231 MLB-related bets, at a legitimate sportsbook. Marcano’s M.L.B. Bets were generally against. Some include multiple legs associated with MLB. Others include both MLB-related legs and non-MLB legs.
In total, Marcano bet more than $150,000 on baseball, compared to $87,319 on MLB-related bets. During this period, Marcano’s MLB bets included 25 Pirates games while he was a member of the Pittsburgh Major League club. He was on the injured list after suffering a season-ending knee injury last July 24, so Marcano didn’t participate in the games he bet on.
Marcano played three big league seasons (2021-23) with the Padres and Pirates, posting a .217/.269/.320 slash line with five home runs. He has not appeared in an MLB game since suffering an ACL injury last July. He was claimed by the Padres last November.
The Pirates released the following statement following MLB’s announcement: “We are deeply saddened by Tuckupita’s actions and fully support Major League Baseball’s decision.” The Pirates work with MLB, the Players Association and each club to ensure that everyone involved in our game is aware of the rules and policies surrounding gambling. While the thorough investigation found no evidence of abuse, influence or manipulation of any games in this matter, maintaining the integrity of our games is paramount.
Kelly was confirmed to have placed 10 bets covering nine major league games from October 5-17, 2021, assigned to the Astros’ Triple-A affiliate in Sugar Land, Texas. Kelly’s bets include bets on scores, over/under runs scored and individual pitcher strikeout totals — three of which involve the Astros’ major league club.
Kelly won five of those bets for a total of $99.22 in winnings on MLB games for a net win of $28.30. He did not participate in the games he played, and he did not make any bets involving the assigned team.
Following MLB’s announcement of Kelly’s suspension, the A’s released the following statement: “The A’s are disappointed to learn of the matter involving Michael Kelly.” While we cannot comment on the specifics, this violation occurred before Michael joined the A’s organization, and we fully support MLB’s sports betting policy and the need to comply with all provisions of Rule 21. Obligations in the policy.
It turns out that Awesome has placed 32 MLB-related bets in 2020-21. 24 The Red Sox major league club in Greenville, SC. The final result of the games.
In total, Awesome wagered $453.74 on 30 MLB game-related bets, resulting in a net loss of $433.54 on those bets. He did not participate in any of the games he played in and did not place any bets against his assigned team.
Rodriguez placed 31 baseball bets in 2021-22, including 28 MLB-related bets and three college baseball games, all while under a minor league contract with the White Sox.
His MLB bets included seven involving the White Sox major league team while assigned to the club’s Double-A affiliate in Birmingham, Ala. Two club-related bets included the result, while the others were close to running on the result. The game.
Rodriguez wagered a total of $749.09 on baseball, with $724.09 placed on MLB-related bets. Rodriguez did not participate in the games he played in and did not place any bets against his assigned team.
Betting data shows that from 2021-22 Saalfranc has 29 baseball bets, including 28 MLB-related bets and one college baseball game. He was on a minor league contract with the D-backs at the time, hitting all of the MLB-affiliated hitters — including four from the D-backs — on Arizona’s Single-A affiliate list.
Saalfranc bet a total of $445.87 on baseball, along with $444.07 on MLB-related bets, taking a net loss of $272.64 on those MLB wagers. Salfrank did not participate in the games he played in and did not make any bets against his assigned team.
MLB requires its employees to participate in annual sports betting education programs that emphasize the policies that apply to each team. At each spring training, all major league and minor league players must attend a physical meeting that outlines the requirements of Major League Rule 21 and the MLB Sports Betting Policy, as well as other best practices.
MLB hosts other English and Spanish awareness programs for players as they begin their professional baseball careers, approach the Major Leagues, and begin each new season. MLB’s efforts include in-person meetings for minor league players and other baseball personnel to address gambling-related harm in their professional and personal lives.