MLB Catcher Bo Naylor Testifies in Pitching Gambling Scandal Case

Bo Naylor, a professional baseball catcher, appeared in a New York court on Thursday to provide testimony in a case involving alleged manipulated pitches by Cleveland Guardians pitchers.

Naylor was a member of the Guardians organization from 2022 until the most recent trade deadline, when he was acquired by the Milwaukee Brewers, who ultimately went on to win the World Series.

Details from the Catcher's Testimony

During his testimony, Naylor was presented with numerous video clips depicting pitches thrown by Clase and Ortiz in 2025. He was first questioned by the defense lawyers representing the pitchers.

The catcher stated that he appeared to have called one of the pitches under scrutiny. He identified a slider thrown away to St. Louis Cardinals player Pedro Pages, explaining that this specific pitch targeted a known weakness of the batter.

Naylor also informed the court that he was not aware that individuals could place wagers on individual pitches during a game.

He elaborated on the customary pregame preparations, explaining that catchers and pitchers collaboratively devise strategies to best approach each opposing batter. This strategy is typically based on analytical assessments of hitters' weaknesses, with the goal of securing an out. Naylor further acknowledged that even highly skilled pitchers cannot guarantee the precise location of every pitch thrown.

Regarding Clase, a three-time All-Star and two-time American League Reliever of the Year, Naylor described his command over pitches as "pretty good," noting that his fastball command surpassed that of his off-speed offerings.

Allegations of In-Game Communication

Attorneys also questioned Naylor about his observations of Clase's behavior. Naylor testified that he had frequently seen Clase using his cellular phone within the locker room. Prosecutors in the case have asserted that Clase, at times, violated Major League Baseball regulations by engaging in communication with gamblers during active games.

It is alleged that bettors collectively profited approximately $400,000 from various betting platforms by wagering on pitches thrown by Clase between 2023 and 2025. Ortiz is accused of joining this alleged scheme in June 2025.

The indictment against the pitchers reportedly includes an instance where Clase is alleged to have used his phone during the middle of a game to coordinate a specific pitch with a bettor.

Pitchers' Careers and Contracts

Clase developed into one of baseball's premier closers, achieving a remarkable 1.21 ERA in his last full season in 2024, which earned him a third-place finish in the American League Cy Young Award voting. By the time the investigation began in 2025, his ERA for that season stood at 3.80. Ortiz holds a career ERA of 4.36, with his strongest season also occurring in 2024, where he posted a 3.32 ERA.

Clase signed a five-year, $20 million contract just prior to opening day in 2022, several months after he secured a fifth-place ranking in the AL Rookie of the Year ballot. Ortiz, conversely, earned the veteran minimum salary of $782,600 last season, as he had not yet become eligible for arbitration.