Guardians’ Luis Ortiz Makes First Court Appearance In Pitch Rigging Case

Cleveland Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz made his first court appearance in his pitch rigging case on Monday … with the 26-year-old being granted his release with several conditions.

Ortiz appeared before a judge in Boston … where he walked out of the courthouse after posting a $500,000 bond, $50K being secured. He was ordered to surrender his passport … and his travel has been restricted to the Northeast.

Cameras were rolling as Luis left in a tracksuit, but he kept his lips sealed as he got into the waiting vehicle.

The four-year MLB veteran was arrested Sunday at Logan Airport in Boston … and we obtained a photo not long after Ortiz was met by cops.

Prosecutors unsealed the indictments on Sunday, alleging that Ortiz and his teammate — Emmanuel Clase — worked with co-conspirators on what pitches they would throw in the game.

Their co-conspirators would then place hundreds of “fraudulent bets” on those pitches … which won them at least $400,000, according to officials.

Chris Georgalis — Ortiz’s attorney — came out with a strong rebuke of the charges to ESPN, denying claims that the pitcher improperly influenced games.