Editor’s Note: Gambling problems aren’t only about losing money. They occur on a continuum, and can affect a person’s whole life. To learn more about developing a healthy relationship to gambling, and to find resources for support, click here.
NEW YORK — Major League Baseball permanently banned San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano on Tuesday for betting on baseball and suspended four other players for one year after finding the players placed unrelated bets with a legal sportsbook.
Marcano appears to be the first active major leaguer banned under the sport’s gambling provision since New York Giants outfielder Jimmy O’Connell in 1924. Pete Rose, baseball’s active career hits leader, famously agreed to a lifetime ban in 1989 after an investigation concluded he bet on Cincinnati Reds games while managing the team.
One other big leaguer, Oakland Athletics pitcher Michael Kelly, was declared ineligible for one year on Tuesday for betting on baseball while he was in the minor leagues. Additionally, minor leaguers Jay Groome of San Diego, José Rodríguez of Philadelphia and Andrew Saalfrank of Arizona were banned for one year for betting on major league games.
The league said it was tipped off about the betting activity by a legal sports betting operator. None of the players punished played in any games on which they wagered, and all players denied to MLB they had inside information relevant to their bets or the games they bet on – testimonies that MLB says align with the data received from the sportsbook.
“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,” Baseball 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.”
Marcano was found to have placed 387 baseball bets, including 231 MLB-related wagers, between Oct. 16, 2022 and Nov. 1, 2023, totaling over $150,000. The league says 25 of those bets included wagers on Pittsburgh Pirates games while he was on the team’s major league roster. However, he did not appear in any of those games because he was on the injured list following a season-ending knee injury. He was receiving medical treatment at PNC Park during that time. Marcano bet almost exclusively on the outcomes of games and lost all of his parlay bets involving the Pirates, winning just 4.3 per cent of all of his MLB-related bets.
Major League Rule 21, posted in every clubhouse, states betting on any baseball game in which a player, umpire, league official or team employee has no duty to perform results in a one-year suspension. Betting on a game in which the person has a duty to perform results in a lifetime ban.
The baseball world was shocked today as news broke that San Diego Padres’ top prospect, Tucupita Marcano, has been handed a lifetime ban from the sport for his involvement in baseball betting. The 21-year-old infielder, who was considered one of the brightest young talents in the Padres’ farm system, has now seen his promising career come to a screeching halt.
Marcano’s ban comes as a result of an investigation by Major League Baseball into allegations that he had been placing bets on games in which he was involved. While the specifics of the allegations have not been made public, it is clear that MLB takes any form of gambling on the sport very seriously.
The news of Marcano’s ban has sent shockwaves through the baseball world, with many fans and analysts expressing their disappointment in the young player’s actions. Marcano was seen as a rising star in the Padres’ organization, and his ban will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the team’s future plans.
In a statement released by the Padres, the team expressed their disappointment in Marcano’s actions and reiterated their commitment to upholding the integrity of the game. The team also stated that they would fully cooperate with MLB’s investigation and take any necessary steps to ensure that this type of behavior does not happen again.
While Marcano’s ban is certainly a blow to the Padres’ organization, it also serves as a stark reminder of the importance of maintaining the integrity of the sport. Baseball has a long history of players and teams being involved in gambling scandals, and MLB has taken significant steps in recent years to crack down on any form of illegal betting.
As for Marcano, his future in baseball is now uncertain. While he may be able to apply for reinstatement at some point in the future, it is clear that his actions have had serious consequences. It is a sad reminder that even the most promising young talents can fall victim to the temptations of gambling, and serves as a cautionary tale for all players in the sport.