San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano received a lifetime ban from Major League Baseball for placing 387 bets totaling $150,000 on baseball games.

Marcano bet on his own team to lose, marking the first active player in a century to get such severe punishment for gambling violations.

The bets were flagged by a legal sports betting operator in March 2024, prompting an investigation.

The investigation led to one-year suspensions for four other players involved in the scandal.

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred emphasized the importance of upholding the game's integrity and enforcing rules against gambling, referencing past scandals like the Black Sox Scandal and Pete Rose's ban.

MLB's commercial partnerships with betting companies were crucial in uncovering Marcano's bets, spotlighting the league's commitment to integrity.

The situation raises concerns about players' susceptibility to betting, especially younger, lower-paid players in a sport where star players earn significantly more.

The league plans to continue investing in integrity monitoring and education initiatives to prevent future incidents.

MLB faces the challenge of balancing its stance on gambling with its financial ties to the industry and the influence of advertising on players' behavior.

Marcano's future in baseball remains uncertain, underscoring MLB's zero-tolerance policy on gambling violations to protect the sport's integrity.