The San Diego Padres’ Tucupita Marcano is under investigation by Major League Baseball for allegedly betting on baseball games.
“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 team said in a statement. “We will not have any further comment until the investigative process has been completed.”
The 24-year-old infielder could face a lifetime ban from baseball if found culpable. According to various reports, the allegations stem from when Marcano was a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates last season, and he allegedly bet on games while he was on the team’s injured list.
Marcano has not played since tearing his right ACL last July 24. He was claimed by the Padres off waivers on Nov. 2 and placed on the 10-day injured list March 19.
According to ESPN, if Marcano is penalized by the league for betting on baseball, it would be the first discipline for gambling handed down by MLB since Pete Rose was banned from the game in 1989.
ESPN reported last month that former Angels player David Fletcher is being investigated by the league for allegedly placing bets with a Southern California bookie, although he is not believed to have bet on baseball. The bookie in that questions is the same one believed to have taken millions of dollars in wages from Dodger slugger Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara.
Mizuhara is scheduled to plead guilty in Orange County on Tuesday to federal charges for allegedly stealing nearly $17 million from Ohtani to cover illegal sports wagers. Ohtani has strongly denied any knowledge of Mizuhara’s activities and insisted he has never bet on sports.
City News Service contributed to this article.