Jose Rodriguez, an infielder for the Philadelphia Phillies, was among five main – and minor league baseball players suspended or permanently banned on Tuesday for breaking the MLB’s gambling rules.
Rodriguez, a minor league second baseman, has been suspended by the MLB for one season. Rodriguez was one of four players punished after breaking Rule 21. Tucupita Marcano, a San Diego Padres infielder, has earned a lifetime ban.
Padres pitcher Jay Groome of Barnegat Township, New Jersey, along with Oakland Athletics pitcher Michael Kelly and Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Andrew Saalfrank, have all been suspended.
Who is José Rodriguez?
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On April 5, 2024, the Phillies acquired Rodriguez in a minor deal with the Chicago White Sox in exchange for cash. He grabbed the 40-man roster space that became available after Philadelphia traded Jake Cave to the Colorado Rockies.
Philadelphia has assigned the 23-year-old middle baseman to Double-A Reading. Rodriguez hit.265/.319/.444 in 38 games for the Philadelphia Phillies, with four home runs, 18 RBIs, and 13 walks.
Rodriguez has appeared in one major league game during his career. On June 20, 2023, he entered the eighth inning of the White Sox’s 7-6 victory over the Texas Rangers. Rodriguez pinch-ran for Chicago catcher Yasmani Grandal, who later scored. He stayed in the game, playing second base.
The Phillies placed Rodriguez on the ineligible list, removing him from the 40-man roster.
What did Jose Rodriguez gamble on?
According to MLB records, Rodriguez bet on baseball 31 times on September 30, 2021 and again from June 5 to July 30, 2022, while on a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox.
The league reported that Rodriguez bet on 28 MLB games and three collegiate baseball games.
Rodriguez placed seven wagers on the White Sox while playing for the Birmingham Barons, Chicago’s Double-A affiliate. According to the league’s announcement, two of the bets were on the outcome, and the other five were on runs scored.
MLB reported that Rodriguez bet $749.09 on baseball in total, with $724.09 on MLB games and parlays.
The league stated that Rodriguez did not play in any of the games he bet on and did not wager on his own club.
“There is no evidence to suggest — and Rodriguez denies — that any outcomes in the baseball games on which he placed bets were compromised, influenced, or manipulated in any way,” the Major League Baseball statement stated.
Rule 21 addresses misconduct and incorporates the sport’s gambling and betting policies.
According to the league’s website, here’s the language for Rule 21(d), which governs betting:
(1) Any player, umpire, Club or League official, or employee who bets any amount on any baseball game for which the bettor has no obligation to perform shall be ruled ineligible for one year.
(2) Any player, umpire, Club or League official, or employee who bets any amount on any baseball game in which the bettor has a duty to perform may be deemed permanently ineligible.
(3) Any player, umpire, Club or League official, or employee who lays wagers with illegal bookmakers, or agents for illegal bookmakers, shall face the penalty deemed suitable by the Commissioner based on the facts and circumstances of the action. Any player, umpire, Club or League official, or employee who operates or works for an unlawful bookmaking operation will be suspended for at least one year by the commissioner. An illegal bookmaker, as defined in this section, is someone who accepts, places, or handles wagers on athletic events from members of the public as part of a gaming business that is prohibited in the jurisdiction where the bets are accepted.
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