Five baseball players have been sidelined over sports betting. MLB handed a lifetime ban to one and one-year suspensions to the others. None of them bet on games they played in, but that didn’t matter. The league referred to a rule that’s been in place for over a century: baseball and gambling don’t mix. Even if the money is legal, participation is off-limits.
Tucupita Marcano received the harshest punishment. Between 2022 and 2023, he placed nearly 400 bets on baseball — 25 of them on games involving the Pirates, the team he was with at the time. He was injured and not on the field, but that made no difference. The total wagered exceeded $150,000. Even though the bets were legal, the fact that he participated sealed his fate. The league banned him from baseball permanently.
The other four players received one-year suspensions. Michael Kelly bet under $100, but some of his wagers involved MLB games. Jay Groome, José Rodríguez, and Andrew Saalfrank also placed bets, mostly on outcomes and totals. The amounts were small, and they almost always lost. A common thread — none of them bet on their own teams, all were questioned and admitted to the violations.
In the U.S., sports betting has long been legalized, but baseball players follow a separate set of rules. They are prohibited from betting on any MLB games, even if they’re not participating and even if the bet is placed through a licensed sportsbook. This has been in the league’s rulebook since the early 1900s. The penalty is strict — lifetime ban or one year off the field. No exceptions.
The investigation began in spring 2024, when a betting company provided MLB with data tied to player-linked accounts. The league brought in other operators and built a full picture. The bets were confirmed, some through biometric verification. All five players admitted involvement, and none filed appeals. There was no evidence of match-fixing or insider tips — but that alone was enough.
MLB stresses that maintaining trust in the game is its top priority. Even small bets can threaten the reputation of the entire league. Officials acknowledge that sports betting and gambling have become far more widespread than in the past. Online casino websites and apps are available to nearly everyone right from their phones. On top of that, online casinos and sportsbooks offer plenty of perks — from a wide range of games to attractive bonuses. And not just in the U.S., but also in neighboring Canada. For example, our writers at www.casinosbonusca.com found tons of no-deposit free spin deals and other promos. Naturally, that draws in millions of users, and for MLB players, it becomes harder to trace their activity. Still, the league’s leadership intends to keep fighting the issue.
League officials are convinced that tough measures are necessary to preserve the integrity of baseball. All athletes go through mandatory annual briefings where the rules are explained in detail. Yet violations continue. It seems some still see the risk as harmless.