Major League Baseball (MLB) has handed San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano a lifetime ban after discovering that he placed bets on baseball games involving his own team while on the injured list during the 2023 season. The Wall Street Journal first reported on MLB’s latest gambling scandal, bringing to light the extent of Marcano’s betting activities.
Details of the Investigation
MLB’s internal investigation revealed that Marcano, 24, placed a total of 387 baseball-related bets from October 16, 2022, to November 1, 2023, amounting to over $150,000. Out of these, 231 bets were placed on MLB games, totaling $87,319. Notably, 25 of these bets involved the Pittsburgh Pirates, the team he was part of at the time, although he was on the injured list due to a season-ending knee injury.
Marcano denied compromising or manipulating the Pirates games he bet on, and MLB’s investigation found no evidence to contradict his claim. However, the investigation did highlight that Marcano lost every parlay involving the Pirates and won only 4.3% of his MLB bets. Marcano and the Players Association have yet to comment on the findings and the lifetime ban.
Padres’ Response
Following the Wall Street Journal’s report, the San Diego Padres released a statement acknowledging the investigation. “We are aware of an active investigation by Major League Baseball regarding a matter that occurred when the player in question was a member of another organization and not affiliated with the San Diego Padres,” the statement read. “We will not have any further comment until the investigative process has been completed”.
Context of Recent Gambling Incidents
Marcano’s case is the latest in a series of gambling-related scandals in professional sports. Earlier this year, Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter pleaded guilty to charges after reportedly stealing nearly $17 million from Ohtani to cover his illegal gambling losses. Ohtani was not implicated in the scandal, which drew significant attention before the MLB season began.
Similarly, Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter received a lifetime ban from the NBA after being found guilty of limiting his participation in games for betting purposes and placing bets on games. Porter, who was on a two-way deal with the Raptors, is the brother of Denver Nuggets star Michael Porter Jr.
In the soccer world, West Ham midfielder Lucas Paquetá was charged by the English Football Association for allegedly breaching its betting rules last month. Additionally, former Alabama baseball head coach Brad Bohannon was fired after a friend attempted to place a $100,000 bet on the team, raising suspicions about potential insider information.
Marcano’s gambling activities and subsequent lifetime ban highlight the ongoing challenges professional sports leagues face in maintaining the integrity of the game. The MLB’s decisive action serves as a stern warning to all players about the severe consequences of violating gambling rules.