Major League Baseball has issued a lifetime ban to infielder Tucupita Marcano, escalating the gambling issues within the sport.
Yahoo Sports reported that this decision comes after Marcano was found to have placed almost 400 bets on the sport, including several on games involving his team.
San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano, until recently associated with the Pittsburgh Pirates, engaged in 387 betting activities from October 2022 through November.
His total bets surpassed $150,000, with 231 of those being on MLB games. His gambling included stakes on the outcomes of his team’s matches, which violated Major League Rule 21 which strictly prohibits such actions by players.
The scandal widened as MLB also handed down one-year suspensions to four other players.
Oakland Athletics pitcher Michael Kelly and minor leaguers Jay Groome, Andrew Saalfrank, and José Rodríguez were all suspended for their involvement in betting on MLB games, though their combined wagers were considerably less than Marcano's, totaling less than $1,000 individually.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred emphasized the importance of maintaining strict enforcement to protect the integrity of baseball.
He stated, "The strict enforcement of Major League Baseball’s rules and policies governing gambling conduct is a critical component of upholding our most important priority: protecting the integrity of our games for the fans."
Despite the severity of Marcano's gaming activities, including losing all his parlay bets involving the Pirates, there was no evidence to suggest that the outcomes of games were compromised.
The legal sports betting operator that alerted MLB to the activities used enhanced surveillance measures to detect the violations.
Mike Shildt, San Diego manager, spoke in support of Marcano’s character, despite acknowledging the gravity of his actions saying, "I got to know him as a person, and I think the person is a good one. It’s something that rightfully baseball takes very seriously, as they should. There are always consequences to your actions. But in my understanding and my relationship with him, which is very limited, he’s a fine young man. We make mistakes in life, and I don’t think he’s running from it. He’s going to be punished for it. I just hope it doesn’t interrupt his life, because again, in talking to him, he’s a good guy, and we all make mistakes.... He doesn’t need to be labeled or anything for one mistake."
Other managers, although less directly involved with the implicated players, reflected on the situation as well.
Mark Kotsay of Oakland recognized the potential for redemption and a second chance post-suspension for Michael Kelly, and Torey Lovullo of Arizona relayed the remorse he had heard from Andrew Saalfrank through others.
Rob Thomson, Philadelphia manager, briefly mentioned the responsibilities of players under Rule 21 without elaborating on José Rodríguez's specific circumstances.
The Pittsburgh Pirates, Marcano’s former team, assured fans that the extensive investigation brought forth no evidence of manipulated game outcomes, a testament to the sanctity still held within the sport.
While the sport reels from its most significant betting scandal in decades, the emphasis remains staunchly on safeguarding the integrity and fairness of baseball, echoing throughout the leagues and among fans and stakeholders alike.