Jay Groome and 4 others suspended for violating MLB sports betting rules

It was announced Tuesday morning that former Barnegat High School star Jason Groome has been suspended by Major League Baseball for one year for violating MLB’s rules and regulations regarding sports betting.

Groome is a member of the San Diego Padres organization in Class AAA El Paso (Tex.). Chihuahua syndrome. He was selected in the first round of the draft and went 12th overall to the Boston Red Sox in the 2016 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

This is the highest Shore Conference selection in draft history. He signed with Boston for $3.65 million.

Groome was one of five players suspended for unrelated violations of MLB sports betting rules and regulations. The others are: Tucupita Marcano (San Diego hitter/outfielder); Michael Kelly (Oakland Athletics pitcher) and Minor League players Jose Rodriguez (Phillies infielder) and Andrew Saalfrank (Arizona Diamonbacks pitcher).

Neither player is appealing the suspension.

What rules did Jason Groome break?

Rule 21 of Major League Baseball states:

“Any player, umpire, official or employee of the Club or League who wagers any amount on any baseball game for which the bettor is not required to attend shall be deemed ineligible for a period of one year.”

“Whereas, any player, umpire, official or employee of the Club or League who wagers any amount on any baseball game for which the bettor is required to appear shall be deemed to be permanently disqualified.”

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred issued the following statement in a message on the MLB website.

“Strict enforcement of Major League Baseball’s rules and policies governing gaming conduct is a critical part of achieving our top priority: protecting the integrity of our games for fans,” Manfred said. “The long-standing ban on betting on Major League Baseball games by people practicing the sport has been a fundamental principle for over a century.

“We have made clear that the privilege of playing baseball comes with the responsibility to refrain from engaging in certain types of conduct that are legal for others.

“Since the Supreme Court’s decision opened the door to legalized sports betting, we have worked with licensed sports betting operators and other third parties to better position ourselves from an integrity perspective through the transparency that a regulated sports betting system can provide.

“MLB will continue to invest heavily in integrity monitoring, educational programs and awareness initiatives to ensure strict adherence to this fundamental tenet of our game.”

MLB’s investigation included interviews and a review of available information in each case with significant cooperation from MLB’s legal sportsbook partners.

The investigation revealed that the following charges were brought against Groome:

Betting data shows that from July 22, 2020 to July 24, 2021, Groome placed 32 MLB-related bets. Of those, 24 bets were on the Red Sox Major League Club, all of which were placed by Groome while he was assigned to the Red Sox High-A affiliate in Greenville, South Carolina. All 24 of Groome’s bets on the Red Sox were on the final score.
In total, Groome placed $453.74 on 30 MLB-related bets (an average of approximately $15.12 per bet) and suffered a net loss of $433.54 on those bets. Ultimately, Groome only received payouts on two of his MLB bets.
Groome’s MLB bets included parlay bets, which sometimes included multiple MLB-related legs and sometimes included both MLB- and non-MLB-related legs.
Groome did not appear in any of the games he bet on, nor did he make any bets involving his assigned team. There is no evidence to suggest – and Groome denies – that any of the results of the baseball games on which he placed bets were affected, influenced or manipulated in any way.
How MLB learned about 5 players’ actions
MLB said it learned in March from a legal sports betting operator about past baseball betting activity from accounts linked to multiple Major and Minor League players
MLB obtained data from this operator and other sportsbooks, including betting credentials.
None of these players participated in any of the games they bet on.
Additionally, all players denied that they had any confidential wagering information or that any of the baseball games on which they wagered were compromised or manipulated, and the wagering data does not suggest that any of the results of the baseball games on which they wagered were compromised, unless influenced or manipulated in any way.
Groome’s career was a star-studded one. In 2018, he underwent Tommy John surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow while a member of the Red Sox organization.
He returned to action on August 21, 2019, while playing for Boston’s Gulf Coast League team.
He was added to Boston’s 40-man roster in May 2021 and went 5-8 with a 4.81 earned run average in 21 starts for the Class AA Portland (Me.) Sea Dogs.
Ultimately, Groome was promoted to Boston’s Class AAA Worcester (Massachusett) team in July 2022.
Less than three weeks later, Groome was traded to San Diego and assigned to El Paso.
He was one of San Diego’s final roster cuts ahead of the 2023 season, despite posting a 1.29 ERA with 13 strikeouts in five spring training appearances. Groome was 4-10 with an ERA of 8.55 and 137 strikeouts in 30 starts last season for El Paso.
He had an ERA of 3.60 this season in three appearances, covering five innings with five strikeouts, no walks and one hit.