Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Opens Criminal Probe Into Players Way

Federal prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Brooklyn have opened a criminal investigation into Players Way, a Florida-based youth baseball company owned by the MLB Players Association, after an anonymous whistleblower complaint. The complaint alleges MLBPA executive director Tony Clark engaged in self-dealing, nepotism and misuse of union resources, including excessive spending on domestic and international trips; Clark and the union deny the allegations and he has not been charged. Public MLBPA records show $3.9 million invested in Players Way, though sources told investigators actual transfers may be closer to $10 million, while the company has generated barely six figures in revenue since its 2019 launch. Former union officials described Players Way’s finances as a “black box,” saying funds largely paid six-figure salaries to executives and consultants, including some former major leaguers who held other jobs. Investigators are seeking documents and probing discrepancies in financial reporting to determine how the union’s money was spent.