It’s amazing how much is NOW being made of this in baseball - as the gambling apps become more mainstream and the whole Ohtani thing played out.
People simply do not understand gambling was (and likely still is) VERY commonplace in the minors - especially amongst certain guys who have shuttled back and forth between majors.
I knew a few guys who played at the AA/AAA level and said it was common for friends of theirs to bet games - believing they had “inside” knowledge. I know Pinnacle offered AAA and certain AA game lines in the past - as did 5 Dimes - you think these places offered these games without having a market ? Most teams at this level struggle to attract 6-8k fans a game - but books are banking more on some of those games than MLB games…doesn’t seem to fit does it?
Think about it - you got guys who are 23-26, making 100k a year and typically single with a lot of free time on their hands late at night and during the day and who are highly competitive personalities. The perfect candidate for a gambler and books know it. The best customers are those who THINK they are smarter - baseballs a grind and over time it will always wear you down.