Jose Rodriguez, minor league player for the Philadelphia Phillies, suspended for one year for betting on baseball

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — A Philadelphia Phillies minor league infielder has been suspended for a year after betting on baseball, MLB announced Tuesday.

Jose Rodriguez, currently with the Reading Fightin Phils, has been suspended for violating MLB sports betting rules and policies.

The league says Rodriguez placed a total of 31 bets. They were placed on September 30, 2021 and from June 5 to July 30, 2022.

28 of the bets were on MLB games and three more were on college baseball games.

The bets included some involving the Chicago White Sox while he was assigned to the White Sox’s minor league affiliate in Birmingham, Alabama.

According to MLB, Rodriguez did not appear in any of the games he had bet on and he did not place any bets involving his assigned team.

“There is no evidence – and Rodriguez denies it – that the results of the baseball games on which he wagered were compromised, influenced or manipulated in any way,” Major League Baseball said in a statement.

According to MLB, Rodriguez wagered a total of $749.09 on baseball, of which $724.09 was spent on MLB-related bets.

The MLB said Rodriguez did not appeal his suspension.

The announcement about Rodriguez came the same day that MLB announced penalties for several other players, including a permanent suspension for San Diego Padres shortstop Tucupita Marcano.

Marcano is accused of betting on the Pittsburgh Pirates during his time with them last season.

The MLB said it was alerted to the betting activity by a legal sportsbook.