Former Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz are on trial this week in Brooklyn.
They’re under investigation for allegedly engaging in a scheme to intentionally throw certain pitch types (velocities) and intentionally throw pitches out of the strike zone in order for conspiring gamblers to make money off outcomes they knew would be coming on individual pitches.
One of the features of the trial is that three former Guardians catchers are on the witness list: Bo Naylor, Austin Hedges and Mike Zunino.
Naylor was the first to testify, but he did it out of order on Thursday.
Normally, a defense witness like Naylor would testify after the prosecuting witnesses. Naylor had a good reason to be there early, though.
Why Bo Naylor Testified Out Of Order
Naylor needs to leave the country for the weekend.
He’s getting married in Italy in a few days:
Before breaking for lunch, Brewers catcher Bo Naylor is called as a witness.
Before being questioned, Ortiz’s attorney congratulates Bo on winning the 2026 World Series
Bo is squeezing in his testimony before flying to Italy for his wedding to get married this weekend
— Erica Block (@EricaDaleBlock) November 5, 2026
That’ll be a thrilling moment in Bo’s life coming off the back of being in the Brewers’ organization to end the season when they won the World Series — although Bo wasn’t on the World Series roster.
First, he was called to the stand to be asked what he might know about what transpired with Clase and Ortiz.
Milwaukee Brewers catcher Bo Naylor is scheduled to testify today in USA vs. Clase/Ortiz.
He’s a defense witness, testifying out of order.
Clase/Ortiz argued on the first day that their pitches were part of legitimate game strategy.
— Sam Blum (@SamBlum3) November 5, 2026
Why Catchers Called as Witnesses
This isn’t the kind of trial you get every day, so the witness list is fascinating. It also includes Guardians pitching coach Carl Willis.
It’s clear based on the opening statements on Wednesday that Clase and Ortiz will make the case that they weren’t missing on pitches or throwing certain pitch types as part of a scheme but rather as part of a plan to attack opposing hitters.
The hope would evidently be that the catchers can vouch for them on that.
Whether or not such testimony can outdo evidence, or whether the evidence is enough to outdo some inside-baseball-level testimony, remains to be seen.
But Naylor is in and out in a flash as he heads to get married this weekend.
Ex-Guardians Catcher Bo Naylor Testified Out of Order in Clase, Ortiz Trial — for Good Reason