Cleveland Guardians’ Bo Naylor Testifies in Court Over Alleged Pitch-Rigging

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Bo Naylor, previously the catcher for the Cleveland Guardians, testified in a New York court regarding allegations of rigged pitches thrown by Guardians pitchers. Naylor played with the team from 2022 until the recent trade deadline, at which point he was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers, who went on to win the World Series.

During the court proceedings, Naylor was presented with numerous video clips of pitches thrown by pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz in 2025. The defense lawyers for the pitchers initiated the questioning.

Bo Naylor and Emmanuel Clase celebrated the Guardians’ 6-3 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on July 22, 2025, in Cleveland.

Naylor mentioned that he called one of the allegedly manipulated pitches, highlighting a slider aimed away from St. Louis Cardinals player Pedro Pages, which the strategy identified as a weak spot for Pages.

Naylor claimed ignorance of the fact that gamblers could bet on specific pitches. He explained that catchers and pitchers devise strategies pregame, analyzing each batter’s weaknesses to effectively pitch against them. Naylor acknowledged that pitchers may not always command the ball as intended.

Clase, recognized as a three-time All-Star and two-time American League Reliever of the Year, was noted by Naylor for having good command, especially with his fastball compared to his offspeed pitches.

During the testimony, it was revealed that Clase was frequently observed using his phone in the locker room. Prosecutors alleged that Clase occasionally breached Major League Baseball rules by contacting gamblers during games.

Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz were indicted in a federal gambling investigation on November 9, 2025.

According to prosecutors, bettors profited by $400,000 from wagers placed on Clase’s pitches from 2023 through 2025. Ortiz allegedly became involved in the scheme in mid-2025. The indictment asserts that at least once, Clase communicated with a bettor during a game to determine the pitch he would throw.

Clase made a significant impact as one of the best closers in the game, securing a 1.21 ERA in 2024 and finishing third in the American League Cy Young Award voting. However, by the time he was under investigation, his 2025 ERA had risen to 3.80. Ortiz has a career ERA of 4.36, with his peak performance in 2024, achieving a 3.32 ERA.