MLB’s ineligible list: Tucupita Marcano becomes latest to get lifetime ban from commissioner Rob Manfred

Major League Baseball announced Tuesday that injured San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano has been permanently banned after violating the league’s gambling policy. (Marcano was one of five players disciplined for gambling-related violations.) A league investigation found that Marcano had placed nearly 400 bets on baseball games, including MLB and international competitions, and that he bet on games involving his team, then the Pittsburgh Pirates, while on the IL.

MLB allows uniformed personnel to participate in sports games as long as it is legal in their territory and the personnel do not place bets on the diamond sports (baseball and softball). The other four players suspended on Tuesday were banned for a year because they didn’t bet on their own team’s games – a line Marcano crossed with his Pirates bets. Although Marcano was not active at the time (he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament last July), betting on games with which he had a straight draw violated MLB Rule 21, which states that “any player, umpire, official or club or League employee who bets any amount on any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has a duty to perform will be declared permanently ineligible.

Marcano, 24, has played in 149 big league games during his career. He hit .217/.269/.320 (63 OPS+) with five home runs, seven stolen bases and 34 runs batted in. Far more notable than what he did on the field is what he means: the latest individual to be placed on the restricted list by MLB commissioner Rob Manfred. In fact, Manfred made full use of the restricted list during his tenure, policing the league by preventing at least eight individuals from having any involvement in MLB.

In light of Marcano’s inclusion in this group, we here at CBS Sports thought this would be a fitting occasion to recap these individuals and how they ended up on the list.

Jenrry Mejia

Mejía became the first player in MLB history to be suspended for life for using performance-enhancing drugs in 2016 when he recorded his third positive test. Mejía had, to that point, appeared in 113 big league games and accumulated a 3.68 ERA and 28 saves. He would have his lifetime suspension lifted in the summer of 2018 and go on to make minor league appearances for the Mets and Red Sox. He would, however, never pitch in the major leagues again for performance reasons. He remains active to this day, playing for the Saraperos de Saltillo of the Mexican League.

Chris Correa

In what will serve as a common theme in this play, Correa was not an actor, but an executive. During his time as the Cardinals’ director of scouting, he improperly accessed an internal Astros database, believing that former Cardinals executive Jeff Luhnow (then the Astros’ general manager) had stolen proprietary information. Not only was Correa banned for life by MLB, he was also sentenced to 46 months in prison for violating federal laws in the process. There is no indication that Correa was reinstated or sought permission to return.

João Coppolella

MLB banned Coppolella, then the Braves’ general manager, in November 2017 after he was found to have skirted league rules on limits on international signings. (The Braves were also forced to release 12 players, including highly touted shortstops Kevin Maitán and Ji Hwan Bae, the latter of whom later ascended to the majors as a member of the Pirates. Coppolella was officially reinstated by MLB in January 2023, but he is still did not join an organization.

Brandon Taubman

Taubman is more of an executive. A former assistant general manager for the Astros, he was fired in October 2019 after making inappropriate comments to reporters following a Houston playoff victory. Taubman is said to have shouted “Thank God we caught Osuna! I’m so [expletive] Glad we got Osuna!” in reference to closer Roberto Osuna, who the Astros controversially acquired following his 75-game suspension for violating MLB’s domestic violence policy. Taubman was reportedly reinstated by MLB in 2020, though he has yet to publicly resurface in a front office.

Roberto Alomar

Alomar, a Hall of Fame second baseman, was placed on the restricted list in May 2021 following a league investigation into alleged sexual misconduct against an industry employee in 2014. Although Alomar remained enshrined in Cooperstown, he was removed from the ” Level” of the Blue Jays. of Excellence” and resigned from the Hall of Fame’s Board of Directors. There is no indication that Alomar requested or was granted reinstatement.

Mickey Callaway

Callaway was also placed on the ineligible list in May 2021 following a league investigation into alleged lewd conduct toward women, which included inappropriate text messages and comments. Callaway, who had previously managed the Mets, was at the time serving as the Angels’ pitching coach. As with Alomar, there is no indication that Callaway has attempted to be reinstated by MLB.

Jared Porter

Porter was placed on the ineligible list in July 2021 after it was reported that he had sent a female reporter 62 consecutive unanswered text messages. Porter, who served as general manager of the Mets, would be ineligible until the 2022 season, at which point he could request reinstatement. It is unclear whether he has applied for reinstatement in the year and a half since.

Tucupita Marcano

We conclude with where we started. At this time, there is no way of knowing whether Marcano will ever be reinstated by Manfred, or whether his ban from the game for gaming violations will stand the test of time, as has happened to Pete Rose (among others) throughout baseball history. At the very least, Marcano secured himself a place in baseball lore, albeit for all the wrong reasons.