Former Pirates player Tucupita Marcano under investigation for betting on baseball
Former Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Tucupita Marcano, currently in his second stint with the San Diego Padres, is under investigation by MLB for violating the league’s gambling policy.
The situation surrounding Marcano, reported Monday by the Wall Street Journal, centers on accusations that he bet on games involving the Pirates last season while a member of the club.
Per the report, Marcano, 24, faces the possibility of a lifetime ban from MLB because of the alleged gambling that transpired while he was on the injured list with the Pirates in 2023.
Four additional unnamed players face disciplinary action for betting on baseball while in the minor leagues.
MLB’s gambling policy stipulates that players are free to place wagers on other sports, but not baseball.
Any player found to have bet on teams other than his own faces a one-year suspension.
Wagering on a game involing his own team results in a lifetime ban.
“We are aware of the matter that’s under investigation and are fully cooperating,” Pirates senior vice president of communications Brian Warecki said in a statement. “We will refrain from further comment at this time.”
Tucupita Marcano faces a lifetime ban for gambling on baseball. Story with @jareddiamond: https://t.co/fvvC6IFl6E
— Lindsey Adler (@lindseyadler) June 3, 2024
MLB, the MLBPA and Marcano, through a representative, declined a comment to the Wall Street Journal.
The Padres issued the following statement: “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. We will not have any further comment until the investigative process has been completed.”
Marcano arrived in Pittsburgh from San Diego in 2021 as part of the trade that sent second baseman Adam Frazier to the Padres.
He played in 124 games for the Pirates in 2022 and 2023, hitting five home runs with 31 RBIs.
In 2023, he split time between the Pirates and Triple-A Indianapolis, appearing in 75 big-league games before suffering a torn ACL in July that ended his campaign.
The Pirates placed him on waivers in the offseason, and he was reacquired by the Padres last November.
Marcano has not appeared in any professional games this season as he continues to recover from his ACL injury.
Justin Guerriero is a TribLive reporter covering the Penguins, Pirates and college sports. A Pittsburgh native, he is a Central Catholic and University of Colorado graduate. He joined the Trib in 2022 after covering the Colorado Buffaloes for Rivals and freelancing for the Denver Post. He can be reached at jguerriero@triblive.com.
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