Former Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz are on trial this week in Brooklyn.
They’re beneath investigation for allegedly participating in a scheme to deliberately throw sure pitch sorts (velocities) and deliberately throw pitches out of the strike zone to ensure that conspiring gamblers to generate profits off outcomes they knew could be approaching particular person pitches.
One of many options of the trial is that three former Guardians catchers are on the witness listing: Bo Naylor, Austin Hedges and Mike Zunino.
Naylor was the primary to testify, however he did it out of order on Thursday.
Usually, a protection witness like Naylor would testify after the prosecuting witnesses. Naylor had a superb motive to be there early, although.
Why Bo Naylor Testified Out Of Order
Naylor wants to go away the nation for the weekend.
He’s getting married in Italy in a couple of days:
Earlier than breaking for lunch, Brewers catcher Bo Naylor is known as as a witness.
Earlier than being questioned, Ortiz’s legal professional congratulates Bo on profitable the 2026 World Collection
Bo is squeezing in his testimony earlier than flying to Italy for his marriage ceremony to get married this weekend
— Erica Block (@EricaDaleBlock) November 5, 2026
That’ll be an exhilarating second in Bo’s life coming off the again of being within the Brewers’ group to finish the season once they received the World Collection — though Bo wasn’t on the World Collection roster.
First, he was known as to the stand to be requested what he may find out about what transpired with Clase and Ortiz.
Milwaukee Brewers catcher Bo Naylor is scheduled to testify right this moment in USA vs. Clase/Ortiz.
He’s a protection witness, testifying out of order.
Clase/Ortiz argued on the primary day that their pitches have been a part of legit recreation technique.
— Sam Blum (@SamBlum3) November 5, 2026
Why Catchers Referred to as as Witnesses
This isn’t the form of trial you get each day, so the witness listing is fascinating. It additionally contains Guardians pitching coach Carl Willis.
It’s clear based mostly on the opening statements on Wednesday that Clase and Ortiz will make the case that they weren’t lacking on pitches or throwing sure pitch sorts as a part of a scheme however fairly as a part of a plan to assault opposing hitters.
The hope would evidently be that the catchers can vouch for them on that.
Whether or not or not such testimony can outdo proof, or whether or not the proof is sufficient to outdo some inside-baseball-level testimony, stays to be seen.
However Naylor is out and in in a flash as he heads to get married this weekend.
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