Major League Baseball announced on Tuesday that injured infielder has been permanently banned after violating the league's gambling policy. ( .) A league investigation found that Marcano had placed nearly 400 bets on baseball games, including and international contests, and that he had gambled on games involving his team, then the , while he was on the IL.
MLB allows uniform personnel to partake in sports gambling, provided that it is legal in their territory and that the personnel do not place bets on the diamond sports (baseball and softball). The other four players suspended on Tuesday were given year-long banishments since they did not gamble on games played by their own team -- a line that Marcano crossed with his Pirates bets. Although Marcano was not active at the time (he suffered a torn ACL last July), betting on games that he had a direct tie to violated MLB Rule 21, which states that "any player, umpire, or club or League official or employee, who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has a duty to perform, shall be declared permanently ineligible.
" Marcano, 24, appeared in 149 big-league games during his career. He hit .217/.
269/.320 (63 OPS+) with five home runs, seven stolen bases, and 34 runs batted in. Far more notable than what he did on the field is what he signifies off it: the latest individual to be placed on the restricted list by MLB commissioner Rob Manfred.
Indeed, Manfred has made full use of the rest.
