Sources – Padres’ Tucupita Marcano faces MLB ban for betting

San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano is going through a possible lifetime ban for betting on baseball after Main League Baseball obtained info that he wagered on video games involving the Pittsburgh Pirates when he was with the group final season, sources confirmed to ESPN on Monday.

Marcano, 24, has but to be formally penalized, however MLB Rule 21 explicitly states {that a} participant who bets on video games involving his personal group is topic to a lifetime ban. Marcano tore an ACL final 12 months and was on the injured record when he allegedly positioned the bets, which had been flagged by a sportsbook and reported to the league, in response to sources.

The potential ban of Marcano comes within the wake of the NBA handing down a ban to Toronto Raptors ahead Jontay Porter for disclosing confidential info to bettors, limiting his participation in a minimum of one recreation and betting on NBA video games whereas enjoying within the G League.

4 different minor league gamers are going through potential self-discipline for betting as nicely, sources informed ESPN. Even when a participant within the minor leagues is on a group’s 40-man roster, he would face a one-year suspension for betting on main league video games, in response to Rule 21.

The Wall Avenue Journal first reported the looming self-discipline for all 5 gamers.

As pervasive as betting in sports activities has turn out to be, it’s significantly delicate in baseball, a sport whose hit king, Pete Rose, stays banned for betting, and whose championship collection was thrown in 1919 by the Chicago White Sox. Los Angeles Dodgers celebrity Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, has indicated he plans to plead responsible to federal felony prices after admitting he had stolen cash from Ohtani to repay playing money owed.

MLB continues to analyze Ohtani’s former teammate with the Los Angeles Angels, David Fletcher, for betting on sports activities with the identical unlawful bookmaker who took wagers from Mizuhara, in response to ESPN’s Tisha Thompson.

Marcano’s case, about which MLB and the MLB Gamers Affiliation proceed to debate the last word self-discipline, would symbolize the primary direct penalty for a participant betting on baseball since Rose. In 2015, Miami Marlins right-hander Jarred Cosart was fined for putting bets not on baseball however with an unlawful bookmaker.

Because the Supreme Courtroom’s 2018 ruling that started the unfold of authorized betting within the U.S., 12 NFL gamers, an assistant coach and an undisclosed variety of league personnel have been suspended for violating the playing coverage, along with Porter’s banishment from the NBA.

MLB and the MLBPA declined remark, as did Marcano via his agent. Pirates senior vp of communications Brian Warecki informed ESPN: “We’re conscious of the matter that is underneath investigation and are totally cooperating. We are going to chorus from additional remark at the moment.”

In a press release, the Padres mentioned: “We’re conscious of an lively investigation by Main League Baseball relating to a matter that occurred when the participant in query was a member of one other group and never affiliated with the San Diego Padres. We is not going to have any additional remark till the investigative course of has been accomplished.”

Marcano rejoined the Padres this winter as a waiver declare after that they had despatched him to Pittsburgh on the 2021 commerce deadline in a deal for infielder Adam Frazier. In 149 profession video games, Marcano hit .217/.269/.320 with 5 house runs and 7 stolen bases in 447 plate appearances.

ESPN’s David Purdum contributed to this report.