MLB Imposes Lifetime Ban on Tucupita Marcano for Betting; Four Others Suspended

Lifetime Ban for Marcano

Tucupita Marcano, a 24-year-old infielder with 149 major league games under his belt, has been banned for life from baseball for placing 387 bets on baseball games.

These bets, totaling more than $150,000, were made between October 2022 and November 2022 with a legal sportsbook. Marcano is the first active player in a century to receive a lifetime ban due to gambling activities.

Four other players received one-year suspensions for betting on baseball games:

Michael Kelly, a pitcher for the Oakland Athletics, was suspended for betting on baseball while playing in the minor leagues.

Jay Groome, a pitcher for the San Diego Padres, Andrew Saalfrank of the Arizona Diamondbacks, and José Rodríguez of the Philadelphia Phillies were also suspended for betting on major league games. Each of these players wagered under $1,000. Saalfrank and Rodríguez have previously played in the majors.

MLB’s Stance on Gambling

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred emphasized the importance of strict enforcement of the league’s gambling rules. “The longstanding prohibition against betting on Major League Baseball games by those in the sport has been a bedrock principle for over a century,” Manfred stated. “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.”

Manfred highlighted that maintaining the integrity of the game is MLB’s highest priority. The prohibition of gambling by those involved in the sport is critical to upholding the trust of the fans and ensuring the fair play and integrity of the game.