San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano is facing a potential lifetime ban from Major League Baseball for allegedly betting on games, sources Jared Diamond and Lindsey Adler of The Wall Street Journal. Marcano allegedly bet on multiple games involving the Pittsburgh Pirates last season when he was on their injured list. The bets that were placed are yet to be known. However, four other players are also reportedly under investigation for allegedly betting on games in the minor leagues as well.
A decision on the potential lifetime ban “could be imminent,” according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano is facing a potential lifetime ban for betting on baseball, sources tell ESPN.
While Major League Baseball’s investigation into Marcano is not complete, a penalty, as @lindseyadler and @jareddiamond reported, could be imminent.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) June 3, 2024
Tucupita Marcano Under Investigation for Betting on Baseball
Marcano, 24, was placed on the injured list by the Pirates in July of last year, undergoing surgery to repair his ACL. The Padres eventually claimed him off waivers in November and has since been on the injured list for this season. From the report that Diamond and Adler released, the league and the MLB Players’ Association are still discussing Marcano’s ultimate punishment.
“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,” the Padres said in a statement to the WSJ. “We will not have any further comment until the investigative process has been completed.”
Marcano was signed by the Padres as an amateur free agent out of Veneluzea in 2016. He was traded to the Pirates in 2021 with Jack Sunwinski for Adam Fraizer.
MLB Has Faced Similar Scandals This Season
MLB rules state that players are permitted to gamble on non-diamond sports legally, but they cannot gamble on baseball or softball at any level. A player caught gambling on teams other than his faces a one-year suspension for a first offense and a lifetime ban if he’s found having gambled on his own team, which Marcano is being accused of.
The news surrounding Marcano comes weeks after Ippei Mizuhara was charged with stealing more than $16 million from Shohei Ohtani. Mizuhara did so to pay off gambling debts to an illegal bookie, who now faces up to 33 years in prison. Most recently, Atlanta Braves minor leaguer David Fletcher is also being investigated by MLB for placing bets with the same illegal bookmaker that Mizuhara used.
Main Photo: © Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
