On Tuesday, Major League Baseball (MLB) handed out significant penalties to five players for violating its sports betting policy. San Diego Padres utility player Tucupita Marcano was hit with a lifetime ban, while four other players received one-year suspensions, including former top Boston Red Sox pitching prospect Jay Groome.
Groome, who was the Red Sox’s first-round pick in 2016, made 32 MLB-related bets between July 2020 and July 2021 while playing for the Greenville Drive, the Red Sox’s High-A affiliate. Despite not participating in any of the games on which he wagered, Groome’s actions violated MLB’s sports betting policy. He won only two of his bets and lost a total of $433.54.
The hard-throwing left-hander had a promising start with the Red Sox but struggled with injuries, including Tommy John surgery in 2018, which sidelined him for a season. In July 2022, Groome was promoted to Triple-A Worcester but was traded to the Padres in August as part of a deal that brought Eric Hosmer, Max Ferguson, Corey Rosier, and cash considerations to Boston. While Groome has shown flashes of potential, he has yet to make his MLB debut despite posting a 3.60 ERA in three starts for San Diego’s Triple-A affiliate this season.
Marcano’s lifetime ban is significant news as it marks only the second time that an MLB player has been banned for life due to a violation of its sports betting policy. The move by MLB sends a strong message that any player found guilty of such infractions will face serious consequences.
