The athlete would have violated Rule 21 of the MLB by betting on matches in which his team from the past season, the Pittsburgh Pirates, was involved.
United States.- Venezuelan baseball player Tucupita Marcano, who plays for the San Diego Padres, faces a possible lifetime suspension for breaking the rule that prohibits betting by active players in Major League Baseball, as confirmed by the Californian team.
Marcano is being investigated by the Major League Baseball (MLB) for his alleged involvement in betting on games last season, in which his former team, the Pittsburgh Pirates, was involved, the Padres stated in a press release.
“We are aware of an active investigation by Major League Baseball regarding an issue that occurred when the player in question was a member of another organization and was not affiliated with the San Diego Padres. We will not comment further until the investigation process has been completed,” the message states.
The investigation was initiated by the MLB, after a notification by a betting house about the movements made by the athlete, who at that time was on the injured list, due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
With his actions, Marcano, who has not yet received an official suspension, would be violating Rule 21 of the MLB, which states that a baseball player who bets on games involving his own team is subject to a lifetime suspension.
Such actions have caused severe punishments, like the one suffered by Pete Rose, the all-time leader in hits in Major League Baseball, who has been barred from entering the Hall of Fame, due to his involvement in betting when he was the manager of the Cincinnati Reds.
See also: The MLB will investigate a former teammate of Shohei Ohtani for illegal betting
If Marcano's suspension occurs, he would be, after Rose, the second player or former player to receive this type of penalty in Major League Baseball.
