MLB player Tucupita Marcano faces possible lifetime ban for alleged baseball betting, AP source says

NEW YORK — San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano is under investigation by Major League Baseball for allegedly betting on baseball and could face a lifetime ban, according to a person close to the investigation.

MLB is investigating allegations that Marcano bet on games involving the Pittsburgh Pirates while he was on the team's injured list last season, according to the person who spoke to The Associated Press undercover of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing.

Marcano could be the second professional athlete banned for life for sports betting this year after the NBA punished Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter in April following a league investigation that found he leaked confidential information to sports bettors and bets on matches.

It is believed that no active MLB player has been banned for betting on baseball since 1924. Pete Rose retired when he accepted a lifetime ban in 1989.

Marcano, 24, has not played since tearing his right ACL on July 24. He was claimed by the Padres on waivers on November 2 and placed on the 10-day injured list on March 19.

The MLB investigation was first reported Monday by the Wall Street Journal, which also reported that four other players were under investigation for betting on baseball while in the leagues minor.

“We are aware of an active investigation by Major League Baseball regarding a matter that occurred while the player in question was a member of another organization and not affiliated with the San Diego Padres,” the team said in a statement. communicated. “We will not make any further comment until the investigative process is complete.”

“We are aware of the matter being investigated and are cooperating fully,” Pirates senior vice president of communications Brian Warecki said in a statement. “We will refrain from further comment at this time.”

Marcano's agent, Michel Velasquez of Rimas Sports, did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. The Major League Baseball Players Association declined to comment.

Major League Rule 21, posted in every clubhouse, states that betting on any baseball game in which a player, umpire, league official or team employee does not have the right to obligation to obtain results are punishable by a one-year suspension. Betting on a game in which the person has a duty to perform results in a lifetime ban.

Additionally, betting on other sports with an illegal sportsbook is subject to disciplinary action as deemed appropriate by the Commissioner of Baseball.

Rose, a career leader in baseball, accepted a lifetime ban in 1989 after an MLB investigation concluded he had bet on Cincinnati Reds games while managing the team.

The last active MLB player suspended under gambling provisions appears to be New York Giants outfielder Jimmy O'Connell, banned for life along with manager Cozy Dolan in 1924 for offering a bribe. $500 wine to Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Heinie Sand to throw a game in September. 27.

Marcano made his major league debut on April 1, 2021 and has a .217 average with five home runs, 34 RBIs and seven stolen bases in 149 games. He played both field and field.

U.S. sports leagues have stepped up oversight of gambling since the U.S. Supreme Court in May 2018 struck down a federal law that banned betting on football, basketball, baseball and other sports in most states. Sportsbooks opened in stadiums across the country in major U.S. professional sports.

Shohei Ohtani's interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, was fired by the Los Angeles Dodgers after the season opener on March 21, when a federal investigation into gambling was made public. Mizuhara agreed to plead guilty to bank and tax fraud in a sports betting case in which prosecutors allege he stole nearly $17 million from the two-time AL MVP to pay off debts.

Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said last month that the sport's Department of Investigation was deferring to the government investigation. He noted that MLB has superior methods for monitoring potentially illicit bets with legal sportsbooks than with illegal sportsbooks. It is unclear how Marcano could have made his alleged bets.

MLB's main concern when it comes to legal sports betting is action other than the score or result, known as prop betting. For example, betting that a certain player would steal at least one base in a given game.

“There are certain types of prop bets that concern us and continue to concern us,” Manfred said. “Obviously the potential for something to happen in the game and no one to notice is much higher with many types of prop bets and you could see where a player would be most tempted to do it – all you have to do is miss three free throws; it doesn't necessarily change the outcome of your game. Your team can come after you and life goes on. It's just easier to have a problem on one. Prop betting. I think it's just human nature. So yes, we remain concerned about them and have pushed for certain types of prop betting to not be allowed.

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AP Sports Writers Greg Beacham and Will Graves contributed to this report.

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