Cleveland Guardians' star pitcher Emmanuel Clase appeared in federal court Thursday afternoon, fresh off a trip from the Dominican Republic to plead not guilty to charges in connection to an alleged sports betting scheme.

Clase was arrested by the FBI at 7 a.m. ET upon arrival at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York City, hours before his U.S. District Court appearance in Brooklyn.

Clase, 27, a closer and three-time all-star, is accused alongside teammate Luis Ortiz of taking several thousand dollars in bribes to help bettors in the Dominican Republic. Those sports gamblers won $460,000 in prop bets placed on the speed and outcome of pitches Clase and Ortiz threw for the Guardians, including some that landed in the dirt, prosecutors say.

The two natives of the Dominican Republic have bee

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