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Bo Naylor testified Thursday in the federal sports betting trial of Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, saying he did not know bettors could wager on individual pitches until the criminal case came to his attention, according to cleveland.
Prosecutors allege the pitchers manipulated pitches to help gamblers with advance information win wagers, cleveland reported. Clase and Ortiz have pleaded not guilty, according to cleveland and the New York Post.
Naylor explains who controls pitch selection
Defense attorneys showed Naylor dozens of clips of pitches Clase and Ortiz threw during the 2025 season, cleveland reported. According to cleveland, Naylor testified that pitchers and catchers develop strategies in pregame meetings based on opposing hitters’ tendencies.
Catchers signal the pitch type and intended location, but pitchers can reject those selections and have the final say, Naylor testified, according to cleveland. The outlet reported that he described Clase as having “pretty good command.”
Federal prosecutors identified 18 pitches Clase threw from 2023 through 2025 that they allege were manipulated, and say the scheme yielded around $460,000 for gamblers, according to cleveland. Clase’s defense argues that some of those pitches were consistent with legitimate baseball strategy, the outlet reported.
Betting witness describes tips through an intermediary
The New York Post reported that government witness Luis de Aza Baez testified he began receiving information about Clase’s pitches through Clase’s associate Enoc Pena in 2023. De Aza Baez said Clase never provided him information directly, according to the New York Post.
The witness testified that when he sought information again during the 2024 season, he was told tips had stopped because of the gambling scandal involving Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter, the New York Post reported.
According to cleveland, unusual betting activity surrounding two pitches Ortiz threw during the 2025 season prompted scrutiny, and betting platforms reported irregularities to MLB and authorities before a federal investigation followed.
Clase and Ortiz remain free on bail and on unpaid, nondisciplinary leave from the Guardians while the prosecution continues, cleveland reported.
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Sources: As reported by cleveland and New York Post.
