Cleveland Guardians Pitching Scandal: Bo Naylor Testifies in Court

Bo Naylor, a former catcher for the Cleveland Guardians, testified in a New York court on Thursday about alleged pitch-rigging by Guardians pitchers. Naylor was with the team from 2022 until the recent trade deadline, when he joined the Milwaukee Brewers, who went on to win the World Series.

During his testimony, Naylor was shown numerous clips from 2025, featuring pitches thrown by pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz. Defense lawyers questioned him first, focusing on whether he called a particular slider aimed at exploiting a weak spot of St. Louis Cardinals player Pedro Pages.

Naylor claimed he was unaware of the possibility of betting on specific pitches. He explained that catchers and pitchers typically strategize before games, analyzing opposing batters’ weaknesses to improve their pitching strategy. Despite this planning, Naylor pointed out that even skilled pitchers cannot guarantee perfect pitch placement.

As a three-time All-Star and former American League Reliever of the Year, Clase had ‘pretty good command’ of his pitches, according to Naylor, who noted Clase’s fastball command surpassed his offspeed pitch precision.

Class’s frequent cell phone use in the locker room caught the attention of attorneys. Prosecutors assert Clase sometimes violated MLB rules by colluding with gamblers during games. Allegations indicate bettors earned substantial profits on Clase’s pitches, winning $400,000 between 2023 and 2025.

The indictment details an incident where Clase allegedly coordinated with a bettor mid-game using his phone. Class’s skills had previously positioned him among the best closers in baseball, boasting a 1.21 ERA in 2024 and securing third place in the American League Cy Young Award voting. However, by the time of investigation in 2025, his ERA rose to 3.80.

Luis Ortiz, who joined the alleged scheme in mid-2025, holds a lifetime ERA of 4.36. His standout season was in 2024, with a 3.32 ERA. While Clase signed a lucrative five-year, $20 million contract in 2022, Ortiz earned the veteran minimum last season, as he had not yet reached arbitration eligibility.

The federal gambling probe indicts both Clase and Ortiz. Their involvement raises serious questions about the integrity of Major League Baseball and its gambling policies.