NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball permanently banned San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano on Tuesday for betting on baseball and suspended four other players for one year after finding the players placed unrelated bets with a legal sportsbook.
Marcano appears to be the first active major leaguer banned under the sport’s gambling provision since New York Giants outfielder Jimmy O’Connell in 1924. Pete Rose, baseball’s active career hits leader, famously agreed to a lifetime ban in 1989 after an investigation concluded he bet on Cincinnati Reds games while managing the team.
One other big leaguer, Oakland Athletics pitcher Michael Kelly, was declared ineligible for one year on Tuesday for betting on baseball while he was in the minor leaguers. Additionally, minor leaguers Jay Groome of San Diego and José Rodríguez of Philadelphia were banned for one year for betting on major league games.
Marcano has not played since tearing his right ACL last July 24. The Padres claimed him off waivers from Pittsburgh last November, but he hasn’t suited up for San Diego while recovering from his knee injury.
New San Diego manager Mike Shildt and most of the current Padres never shared a dugout with Marcano, only meeting him at spring training.
“I got to know him as a person, and I think the person is a really good one,” Shildt said Tuesday before the Padres faced the Los Angeles Angels.
“Clearly it’s something that rightfully baseball takes very seriously, as they should,” Shildt added. “There’s always consequences to your actions. But in my understanding and my personal relationship with him, which is very limited, he’s a fine young man. We make mistakes in life, and I don’t think he’s running from it. He’s clearly going to be punished for it. I just hope it doesn’t interrupt his life, because again, in talking to him, he’s a good guy, and we all make mistakes. … He doesn’t need to be labeled or anything for one mistake.”
