Guardians’ Emmanuel Clase Trial Gets Honest Answers From Bo Naylor

Former Cleveland Guardians catcher Bo Naylor testified on Thursday as a defense witness in the federal trial of Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz in Brooklyn. Both pitchers face allegations of participating in a pitch-rigging scheme. Naylor testified out of order prior to traveling to Italy, offering insight into an allegedly rigged outside slider thrown by Clase to St. Louis Cardinals hitter Pedro Pagés.

Naylor stated that he called the pitch via PitchCom to exploit Pagés' scouting weakness against low-and-away sliders. The defense highlighted that five of the seven relevant at-bats resulted in outs. Under cross-examination, prosecutors showed video implying Clase shook off signs to intentionally throw slower balls, though Naylor noted Clase commanded his cut fastball better than his slider.