On Tuesday, Major League Baseball announced a lifetime ban for former San Diego Padres infielder Tucupite Marcano due to betting on baseball games while on the injured list. Additionally, MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand reported that former Boston Red Sox pitching prospect Jay Groome was one of four players given a one-year suspension for separate breaches of MLB’s sports betting rules.
MLB announced that its investigation began in March after being informed by a legal sports betting operator about past baseball-related betting activities linked to major and minor league players. MLB authenticated this data with information from the operator and other sportsbooks.
Jay Groome Suspended by MLB
Jay Groome, a former Red Sox pitching prospect now with the San Diego Padres, was one of four players handed a one-year suspension for violating MLB’s sports betting policies. While playing with the Red Sox’s High-A affiliate in Greenville, Groome made 24 bets on the outcomes of Red Sox major league games. Currently on Triple-A El Paso’s 7-day injured list and on the Padres’ 40-man roster, Groome placed some of these bets as parlays, combining multiple baseball-related and non-MLB legs.
MLB’s statement noted that Groome did not bet on any games involving his High-A affiliate team, and there was no evidence that the outcomes of the games he wagered on were compromised or manipulated in any way, which Groome also denies. Over 32 bets, Groome wagered $453.74 on 30 MLB game-related bets, resulting in a net loss of $433.54, winning only two of his MLB wagers. Along with Groome, Michael Kelly (Oakland Athletics), José Rodriguez (Philadelphia Phillies), and Andrew Saalfrank (Arizona Diamondbacks) received suspensions, separate from Tucupite Marcano’s lifetime ban.
Groome’s Career
Jay Groome, the 12th overall pick in the 2016 MLB Draft, experienced a career filled with ups and downs due to frequent injuries. He missed the entire 2018 season following Tommy John surgery and appeared in only three games in 2019. After missing the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Groome returned in 2021. In 2022, he pitched for Triple-A Worcester before being traded to the San Diego Padres.
With the Padres, Groome has made 43 starts for their Triple-A affiliate in El Paso. This season, he has made three starts, posting a 6.97 ERA over five innings. Last season, he struggled with an 8.55 ERA across 30 starts and 134 2/3 innings. In 2024, through three appearances and five innings, Groome has a 3.6 ERA with five strikeouts.
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