Ex-Guardians Catcher Bo Naylor Testifies in Defense of Clase and Ortiz in Pitch-Rigging Trial

A catcher's testimony from behind the plate to the witness stand

November 7, 2026 · 1:50 a.m. Eastern / 12:50 a.m. Central

In a dramatic courtroom moment that intersected high-stakes sports jurisprudence with personal milestones, Milwaukee Brewers catcher Bo Naylor took the witness stand in Brooklyn federal court to defend former Cleveland Guardians teammates Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz against federal sports bribery and pitch-rigging charges.

Naylor, 26, appeared as a defense witness on Thursday before U.S. District Judge and an empaneled federal jury in the Eastern District of New York. The court granted an unusual scheduling accommodation to allow Naylor to testify out of turn so he could immediately catch an afternoon flight for his own upcoming wedding weekend.

Having served as the primary batterymate for both pitchers during their dominant 2024 and 2025 campaigns with the Guardians, Naylor provided crucial firsthand perspective on the mechanics, sequencing, and erratic nature of Major League pitching under intense game conditions.

Video replays, scouting reports and pitcher mound autonomy

Prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York allege that Clase, a multi-time All-Star closer, and Ortiz conspired with an offshore sports gambling ring to manipulate specific pitches during the 2025 season—intentionally throwing balls outside the strike zone to trigger payouts on illicit micro-betting and prop bets.

During direct examination, defense counsel played slow-motion video footage of several disputed pitches cited in the federal indictment. Naylor watched the monitors intently, repeatedly testifying that he perceived nothing suspicious or artificial about the deliveries.

“It was completely normal within our game plan,” Naylor testified, explaining that calling for low-and-away sliders or intentionally expanding the strike zone against aggressive hitters are standard defensive strategies. Naylor emphasized that pitchers possess absolute autonomy on the mound to shake off pitch calls or alter pitch locations based on arm feel and batter setup.

Ignorance of micro-betting markets revealed under cross-examination

Under cross-examination by Assistant U.S. Attorney James Simmons, Naylor offered an unvarnished glimpse into how professional ballplayers viewed modern sports gambling.

Simmons pressed Naylor on whether he was aware that mobile sportsbook apps and offshore syndicates allow gamblers to wager on the exact outcome of individual pitches—such as ball versus strike or pitch velocity thresholds. Naylor testified unequivocally that he had no comprehension that pitch-by-pitch gambling even existed until federal agents launched their investigation.

“I didn’t know that before,” Naylor testified candidly. “I didn’t know that until the situation [the criminal case].”

Earlier in the trial, a cooperating witness testified that information pipelines to the gambling syndicate dried up significantly following the high-profile 2024 federal investigation into former Dodgers interpreter Ippei Mizuhara. The defense contends that normal command fluctuations in a grueling 162-game season are being criminalized without direct proof of bribery.

Where the federal trial is taking place

The star marks the Theodore Roosevelt United States Courthouse in Brooklyn, New York, where federal prosecutors and defense counsel are presenting testimony.

★ U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York (Brooklyn, NY). Map data: OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. Open map.