- MLBPA chief Tony Clark calls for eliminating prop bets after gambling investigations and increased player threats from angry bettors.
- Commissioner Rob Manfred defends sportsbook partnerships as necessary for accessing data to track suspicious betting activity and protect game integrity.
TORONTO – MLB Players Association executive director Tony Clark is calling for the elimination of prop bets following a wave of gambling-related scandals that have threatened player safety and raised questions about the integrity of baseball.
Clark spoke to reporters before Game 1 of the World Series at Rogers Centre, addressing ongoing investigations into Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, who have been on paid leave since midsummer due to suspicious prop bet activity.
Player Safety Concerns Mount
The union chief emphasized that prop bets create unique vulnerabilities for players on the field. Unlike traditional game outcome wagers, prop bets focus on individual player actions that can be directly influenced, such as throwing a first-pitch ball to consecutive batters or specific pitch outcomes.
Legal sports betting sites have exploded in popularity since legalization, but the ease of access has created significant problems. Players have increasingly reported threats from angry bettors on social media when wagers fail to hit, with Padres pitcher Lance McCullers and White Sox pitcher Liam Hendriks among those targeted in 2025.
Clark acknowledged the financial benefits the MLBPA receives through collective bargaining agreements tied to sports betting partnerships with platforms like FanDuel and ESPN Bet. However, he made clear that player safety takes precedence over revenue.
League-Wide Gambling Scandals
The Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, and former NBA player Damon Jones have all been arrested as part of the NBA’s ongoing federal betting investigation. Adam Silver, the NBA commissioner, received a letter from Congress asking for a briefing on the issue.
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Before Game 2, Commissioner Rob Manfred defended MLB’s partnerships with sports books, stating that they give access to vital data for tracking suspicious betting behavior.
Although there are several prop bet possibilities available on MLB betting sites, Ohio gambling officials are currently working to ban sportsbooks from offering specific microbets, such as first-pitch markets that are entirely controlled by individual players.
MLB has already seen multiple scandals since embracing legalized gambling, including lifetime bans and umpire dismissals.
