San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano banned for life from MLB for betting on baseball

The infielder was disciplined alongside 4 minor leaguers, together with one who additionally has ties to the Padres.

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano was completely banned by Main League Baseball officers on Tuesday for violating the league’s playing coverage, whereas 4 others had been positioned on a one-year suspension for unrelated bets with a authorized sportsbook.

The announcement comes someday after the investigation into bets made by the 24-year-old on baseball had been made public. Based on reviews, the alleged sports activities betting occurred final yr whereas Marcano was on the injured record after sustaining a season-ending ACL harm in July.

On Tuesday, league officers stated their investigation discovered Marcano had positioned 387 baseball bets, together with 231 MLB-related wagers between Oct. 16, 2022 an Nov. 1, 2023. All wagers totaled over $150,000.

On the time, the infielder was with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was first signed to the Padres as an beginner free agent from Venezuela in 2016 earlier than being traded to the Pirates in 2021. He rejoined the Padres on waivers within the offseason final November and has spent his whole tenure with the workforce up to now on the injured record.

Of the bets he positioned, MLB officers stated 25 had been wagers on Pirates video games whereas he was injured, however nonetheless on the workforce’s roster. Marcano wager virtually completely on the outcomes of video games and misplaced all of his parlay bets involving the Pirates, profitable simply 4.3% of all of his MLB-related bets.

Based on the league, a authorized sportsbook operator tipped off MLB officers in regards to the sports activities betting exercise.

Beneath Main League Rule 21, betting on any baseball sport during which a participant, umpire, league official to workforce worker has no obligation to carry out leads to a one-year suspension. Betting on a sport during which the particular person has an obligation to carry out leads to a ban.

“The strict enforcement of Main League Baseball’s guidelines and insurance policies governing playing conduct is a important part of upholding our most vital precedence: defending the integrity of our video games for the followers,” Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred stated in an announcement. “The longstanding prohibition towards betting on Main League Baseball video games by these within the sport has been a bedrock precept for over a century. We’ve been clear that the privilege of enjoying in baseball comes with a accountability to chorus from partaking in sure varieties of conduct which can be authorized for different individuals.”

Marcano seems to be the primary lively main leaguer banned underneath the game’s playing provision since New York Giants outfielder Jimmy O’Connell in 1924. Pete Rose, baseball’s lively profession hits chief, famously agreed to a lifetime ban in 1989 after an investigation concluded he wager on Cincinnati Reds video games whereas managing the workforce.

One different massive leaguer, Oakland Athletics pitcher Michael Kelly, was declared ineligible for one yr on Tuesday for betting on baseball whereas he was within the minor leagues. Moreover, minor leaguers Jay Groome of San Diego, José Rodríguez of Philadelphia and Andrew Saalfrank of Arizona had been banned for one yr for betting on main league video games.

Based on MLB, Groome positioned 32 MLB-related bets between July 22, 2020 and July 24, 2021, whereas he was assigned to the Boston Pink Sox’ Excessive-A affiliate. Of these, 24 bets concerned the Pink Sox Main League Membership.

Not one of the gamers punished on Tuesday performed in video games they wager on, in line with league officers. All additionally denied to MLB that that they had inside data related to the video games they wager on, aligning with the testimony given by the sportsbook operator who tipped off the league.

In an announcement, the Padres officers stated they “can’t touch upon violations that occurred exterior of our group,” however added they “absolutely assist MLB’s sports activities betting coverage and the necessity to adhere to all provisions of Rule 21.”

“We’ll proceed to coach all members of our group concerning their obligations underneath the coverage,” the assertion continued.