NEWSLETTER
Update (6/4/24): As expected, Tucupita Marcano has officially been banned for life for violating MLB’s gambling policy and betting on baseball.
Four other players, including Jay Groome (Padres), Jose Rodriguez (Phillies), Andrew Saalfrank (D-Backs), and Michael Kelly (Athletics) have been suspended for one year. My understanding of the distinction is that Marcano was betting on a team he was on (the Pirates), whereas the other four were not actually on the teams on whom they gambled. In fact, those four other players were reportedly betting on baseball while in the minors.
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Original post and details follow.
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According to multiple reports on Monday afternoon, San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano is facing a potential lifetime ban from Major League Baseball for betting on baseball. The Wall Street Journal’s Lindsey Adler and Jared Diamond were the first with the report.
Tucapita Marcano Facing Lifetime Ban
According to Adler and Diamond, Marcano has been accused of betting on games involving the Pittsburgh Pirates last season, while he was on the team’s injured reserve list. While the 24-year-old’s ultimate punishment hasn’t been decided, he could be banned from MLB for life.
Additionally, MLB is investigating four other players for betting on baseball while in the minor leagues. Marcano declined to comment through a representative, and MLB and the MLBPA declined to comment, as well.
Padres Statement on Tucupita Marcano Allegations:
“We are aware of an active investigation by Major League Baseball regarding a matter that occurred when the player in question was a member of another organization and not affiliated with the San Diego Padres. We will not have any further comment until the investigative process has been completed.”
Marcano’s bust comes just months after the former interpreter for Shohei Ohtani was accused of stealing more than $16 million from the Dodgers superstar to pay off gambling debts with an illegal bookmaker.
Ohtani’s former teammate with the Los Angeles Angeles, David Fletcher, is also being investigated by the league for making bets with the same illegal bookmaker.
According to Rule 21—which is posted in every major league clubhouse—players are allowed to make legal bets on sports other than baseball. A player betting on a baseball game involving teams other than his own results in a one-year suspension. Betting on a game involving your own team comes with a lifetime ban.
Marcano hasn’t played since July 24, 2023, when he tore his ACL in a game against, coincidentally, the San Diego Padres while playing for the Pirates.
