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According to MLB, Marcano did not appear in any
of the games on which he placed bets as his Pirates-related
wagers occurred after he suffered a season-ending knee injury
last July.
"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," MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said in
a statement.
"The longstanding prohibition against betting on Major League
Baseball games by those in the sport has been a bedrock
principle for over a century.
"We have been clear that the privilege of playing in baseball
comes with a responsibility to refrain from engaging in certain
types of behavior that are legal for other people."
According to data obtained from a legal sports betting operator,
MLB concluded that Marcano placed 387 baseball bets, including
231 MLB-related wagers from Oct. 16-23, 2022 and from July 12,
2023 through Nov. 1, 2023.
In total, MLB said the 24-year-old Marcano bet more than
$150,000 on baseball, with $87,319 of that on MLB-related bets.
MLB also said there is no evidence to suggest — and Marcano
denies — that any outcomes in the baseball games on which he
placed bets were compromised, influenced, or manipulated in any
way.
Marcano first signed with San Diego as an amateur out of
Venezuela in 2016 and made his MLB debut in 2021, appearing in
25 games for the club that season before being traded in July of
that year to the Pirates.
Marcano had surgery to repair a torn right anterior cruciate
ligament that he sustained last July when he awkwardly stepped
on third base during a game.
The Padres selected Marcano off waivers last November but he had
not played for the team since being acquired.
Oakland Athletics pitcher Michael Kelly was also suspended one
year for betting on MLB games while he was playing in the minor
leagues.
In addition, MLB said minor league players Jay Groome (Padres
pitcher), Jose Rodriguez (Philadelphia Phillies infielder) and
Andrew Saalfrank (Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher) were each banned
one year for betting on MLB games.
(Reporting by Frank Pingue in TorontoEditing by Christian
Radnedge)
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