Bo Naylor Says He Was Unaware of Pitch Betting

Bo Naylor, a former Cleveland Guardians catcher now with the Milwaukee Brewers, testified on November 5, 2026, at the federal trial of former teammates Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz. Naylor said he did not know gamblers could wager on individual pitches until the case against the pitchers came to light. He was called as a defense witness ahead of his wedding and questioned by prosecutors and defense lawyers.

Defense attorneys showed jurors video featuring deliveries from Clase and Ortiz during 2025. Naylor said the disputed pitches he saw looked like ordinary sliders outside the strike zone. He testified that scouting reports supported throwing low, outside sliders to certain hitters, and described how catchers and pitchers plan pitches based on opposing batters. He also said pitchers can reject a catcher’s suggestion and that even skilled pitchers cannot guarantee a pitch will go where intended. Naylor described Clase’s command as good.

Prosecutors allege Clase and Ortiz accepted payments to help bettors wager on individual pitches, bringing the bettors at least $460,000. They allege Clase began sharing pitch information with bettors in 2023 and brought Ortiz into the scheme in 2025. Naylor acknowledged often seeing Clase use his phone in the clubhouse, but said he was not close friends with either pitcher. He also testified that he had heard clubhouse rumors that Clase was involved in cockfighting.

Both pitchers have pleaded not guilty to conspiracy charges and are on leave from the Guardians without pay while the case proceeds. Their lawyers have argued that Clase’s interests included cockfighting and dominoes, not sports betting. Major League Baseball can impose discipline separately from the criminal trial.