Josh Naylor

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Josh Naylor

|image = Josh Naylor (52650052738).jpg

|caption = Naylor with the Cleveland Guardians in 2023

|position = First baseman

|team = Arizona Diamondbacks

|number = 22

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|6|22}}

|birth_place = Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

|bats = Left

|throws = Left

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = May 24

|debutyear = 2019

|debutteam = San Diego Padres

|statyear = May 28, 2025

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label = Batting average

|stat1value = .265

|stat2label = Home runs

|stat2value = 90

|stat3label = Runs batted in

|stat3value = 377

|teams =

San Diego Padres ({{mlby|2019}}–{{mlby|2020}})
Cleveland Indians / Guardians ({{mlby|2020}}–{{mlby|2024}})
Arizona Diamondbacks ({{mlby|2025}}–present)

| awards =

All-Star (2024)

|medaltemplates=

{{MedalCountry | {{bb|CAN}}}}

}}

Joshua-Douglas James Naylor (born June 22, 1997) is a Canadian professional baseball first baseman for the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the San Diego Padres and Cleveland Guardians.

The Miami Marlins selected Naylor with the 12th overall pick in the 2015 MLB draft, and traded him to the Padres in 2016. He made his MLB debut in 2019. The Padres traded Naylor to Cleveland during the 2020 season. He was an MLB All-Star in 2024 and the Guardians traded him to the Diamondbacks after the 2024 season.

Amateur career

Throughout his amateur career, he played for the Ontario Blue Jays of the Canadian Premier Baseball League (CPBL). This elite travel baseball team regularly competed in tournaments across North America, and was composed of the top young players in all of Ontario.

Naylor attended St. Joan of Arc Catholic Secondary School in Mississauga, Ontario. He made the Canadian junior national baseball team at the age of 15, winning the silver medal at the Under-18 Baseball World Cup held in South Korea in 2012.{{cite web|url=http://www.mississauga.com/sports-story/3128469-future-looks-bright-for-young-baseball-star/|title=Future looks bright for young baseball star|work=The Mississauga News|date=September 25, 2012 |access-date=May 8, 2015}} He won the bronze medal at the 2014 Under-18 Baseball World Cup,{{cite web|url=http://www.baseball.ca/naylor-orimoloye-named-high-school-all-americans|title=Baseball Canada – Naylor, Orimoloye named High School All-Americans|work=baseball.ca|access-date=May 8, 2015}} and competed in the 2015 Under-18 Baseball World Cup.{{cite web|url=http://m.bluejays.mlb.com/news/article/95480930/josh-naylor-demi-orimoloye-among-canadas-best-youth-players|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140929064609/http://m.bluejays.mlb.com/news/article/95480930/josh-naylor-demi-orimoloye-among-canadas-best-youth-players|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 29, 2014|title=Naylor, Orimoloye among Canada's best youth players|work=Toronto Blue Jays|access-date=May 8, 2015}}

File:Josh Naylor Tournament12 (cropped).jpg

In 2014, Naylor was chosen as one of the ten high school invitees to the MLB Junior Select Home Run Derby during the MLB All-Star Week at Target Field, becoming the first Canadian to participate in the event.{{cite web|url=http://www.mississauga.com/sports-story/4597732-mississauga-s-josh-naylor-selected-for-home-run-derby/|title=Mississauga's Josh Naylor selected for home run derby|work=The Mississauga News|date=June 25, 2014 |access-date=May 8, 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://news.nationalpost.com/sports/mlb/canadian-josh-naylor-gets-berth-in-junior-home-run-derby-as-part-of-mlb-all-star-game-festivities|title=Canadian Josh Naylor gets berth in junior home run derby as part of MLB All-Star Game festivities|author=John Lott|date=July 14, 2014|work=National Post|access-date=May 8, 2015}} He finished in second place.{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/baseball/josh-naylor-loses-junior-home-run-derby-1.2707042|title=Josh Naylor loses Junior Home Run Derby|date=July 15, 2014|publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|access-date=May 8, 2015}} Later in 2014, he appeared in the Perfect Game All-American Classic at Petco Park and the Under Armour All-America Baseball Game at Wrigley Field.{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/cbn-teenage-star-naylor-puts-canada-on-the-map/|title=CBN: Teenage star Naylor puts Canada on map|author=Rogers Digital Media|work=Sportsnet.ca|access-date=May 8, 2015}}

Naylor was committed to enroll at Texas Tech University to play college baseball for the Texas Tech Red Raiders baseball team.{{cite web|url=http://www.mississauga.com/sports-story/4939781-naylor-commits-to-texas-tech/|title=Naylor commits to Texas Tech|first=Iain|last=Colpitts|work=The Mississauga News|date=October 23, 2014|access-date=May 8, 2015}} In 2015, Perfect Game ranked Naylor among the top 50 available prospects available in the 2015 Major League Baseball Draft, and he made Baseball America{{'}}s High School All-American first team.{{cite news|url=http://www.torontosun.com/2015/03/13/canadas-baseball-future-on-display|title=Canada's baseball future on display|newspaper=Toronto Sun|access-date=May 8, 2015}}

Professional career

=Miami Marlins=

The Miami Marlins selected Naylor in the first round, with the 12th overall selection, of the 2015 MLB draft.{{cite web|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/mlb/miami-marlins/article23552752.html|title=Lefty slugger Josh Naylor is top pick for Marlins in draft|work=The Miami Herald|access-date=June 9, 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/naylor-soon-to-become-household-canadian-name/|title=Naylor soon to become household Canadian name|author=Rogers Digital Media|work=Sportsnet.ca|access-date=June 9, 2015}} He signed with the Marlins after his June 25 graduation from St. Joan of Arc for a reported signing bonus of $2.25 million, and was assigned to the Gulf Coast Marlins of the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League for his professional debut.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/marlins-first-round-pick-josh-naylor-homers-in-bp/c-130395490|title=First-rounder visits Miami, hits 'em out in BP: Naylor, drafted 12th overall on Monday, reaches second deck in first action at future home|first=Joe|last=Frisario|work=MLB.com|date=June 13, 2015|access-date=June 14, 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.foxsports.com/florida/story/miami-marlins-sign-josh-naylor-070215|title=Marlins sign 12th pick of First-Year Player Draft Josh Naylor|first=Christina|last=De Nicola|work=FOX Sports Florida|date=July 2, 2015|access-date=July 3, 2015}} Naylor played in 25 total games for the Marlins posting a .327 batting average with one home run and 16 RBIs.

Naylor began the 2016 season with the Greensboro Grasshoppers of the Single–A South Atlantic League.{{cite web|url=http://www.greensboro.com/sports/marlins-prospect-isael-soto-back-with-grasshoppers-after-knee-injury/article_68a912c4-9e22-5bb7-84e5-7a71f313d676.html |title=Marlins prospect Isael Soto back with Grasshoppers after knee injury last season | Sports |publisher=greensboro.com |date=April 5, 2016 |access-date=July 17, 2017}} In June he was suspended without pay after injuring teammate Stone Garrett with a knife as part of a prank.{{cite news|last1=Mills|first1=Jeff|title=Prank gone wrong costs Grasshoppers two top prospects|url=http://www.greensboro.com/sports/grasshoppers/prank-gone-wrong-costs-grasshoppers-two-top-prospects/article_ed546cfc-9266-5340-879a-9efc716104e4.html|access-date=June 10, 2016|work=Greensboro News & Record|date=June 6, 2016}} He was selected to appear in the 2016 All-Star Futures Game.{{cite web|url=http://www.greensboro.com/sports/grasshoppers/grasshoppers-slugger-josh-naylor-picked-to-play-in-all-star/article_ce2f4d5f-9eaf-5b6c-a051-b45bdec75f53.html|title=Grasshoppers slugger Josh Naylor picked to play in All-Star Futures Game|first=Jeff|last=Mills|work=Greensboro News & Record|date=June 28, 2016|access-date=June 28, 2016}}

=San Diego Padres=

On July 29, 2016, the Marlins traded Naylor, Carter Capps, Jarred Cosart, and Luis Castillo to the San Diego Padres in exchange for Andrew Cashner, Colin Rea, Tayron Guerrero, and cash considerations.{{cite press release|url=https://www.mlb.com/press-release/padres-acquire-four-players-from-miami-marlins-in-seven-player-trade-192421780|title=Padres acquire four players from Miami Marlins in seven-player trade|work=MLB.com|date=July 29, 2016|access-date=July 29, 2016|archive-date=August 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160801070923/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/192421780/padres-acquire-four-players-from-miami-marlins-in-seven-player-trade/|url-status=live}} Naylor was assigned to the Lake Elsinore Storm of the High–A California League. In 122 games between the Grasshoppers and the Storm, Naylor batted .264 with 12 home runs and 75 runs batted in.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/milb/news/josh-naylor-comfortable-in-first-san-diego-padres-spring-training/c-219523052 |title=Naylor comfortable in first Padres camp |publisher=MiLB.com |access-date=April 9, 2018}}

File:Josh Naylor San Diego Padres (49698683903) (cropped).jpg]]

Naylor played for Team Canada in the 2017 World Baseball Classic.{{cite web|url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/padres/sd-sp-padres-20170308-story.html |title=WBC an education for Padres minor leaguers |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |date=July 13, 2017 |access-date=July 17, 2017}} He began the 2017 season with Lake Elsinore.{{cite web|url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/padres/sd-sp-padres-minor-league-report-josh-naylor-20170527-story.html |title=Josh Naylor dominating in return to Cal League |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |date=May 27, 2017 |access-date=July 17, 2017}} The Padres promoted him to the San Antonio Missions of the Double–A Texas League in July.{{Cite web |last=Sanders |first=Jeff |date=July 13, 2017 |title=Cal Quantrill, Josh Naylor promoted to San Antonio |url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/padres/sd-sp-padres-minors-quantrill-naylor-promoted-20170711-story.html |access-date=July 17, 2017 |website=The San Diego Union-Tribune}} Naylor finished 2017 with a combined .280 average with ten home runs and 64 RBIs between both clubs.{{cite web|url=http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?player_id=647304#/career/R/hitting/2017/ALL|title=Josh Naylor Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball|access-date=November 19, 2017}} He returned to San Antonio in 2018, and began playing as an outfielder.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/milb/news/playing-new-position-san-diego-padres-josh-naylor-homers-twice/c-271280522 |title=Naylor leaves yard twice for Missions |publisher=MiLB.com |date=May 23, 2016|access-date=April 9, 2018}}

Naylor opened the 2019 season with the El Paso Chihuahuas of the Triple–A Pacific Coast League.{{cite web|url=https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/sports/2019/04/05/el-paso-chihuahuas-outfielder-josh-naylor-one-watch-2019-season/3349073002/|title=El Paso Chihuahuas outfielder Josh Naylor one to watch out for this season|author=Felix F. Chávez|publisher=El Paso Times|date=April 5, 2019|access-date=May 23, 2019}} On May 24, 2019, Naylor was promoted to the major leagues for the first time.{{cite web|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/mlb/news/mississauga-native-josh-naylor-mlb-debut-padres-canada/9njnr5mq1pgs1r3q49skm8iua|title=Mississauga native Josh Naylor to make MLB debut for Padres in Canada|author=Matt Hornick|publisher=Sporting News|date=May 24, 2019|access-date=May 24, 2019}} He made his MLB debut that night versus the Toronto Blue Jays. In 94 games during his rookie campaign, Naylor slashed .249/.315/.403 with eight home runs and 32 RBI.{{cite web | last=Sikes | first=Ryan | title=Padres: 2020 player profile, Josh Naylor | website=Friars on Base | date=May 19, 2020 | url=https://friarsonbase.com/2020/05/19/padres-2020-player-profile-josh-naylor/ | access-date=January 1, 2025}}

Naylor made appearances for San Diego in 2020, batting .278/.316/.417 with one home run, four RBI, and one stolen base.

=Cleveland Indians / Guardians=

File:Josh Naylor 2024.png

On August 31, 2020, the Padres traded Naylor, along with Austin Hedges, Cal Quantrill, and minor league players Gabriel Arias, Owen Miller, and Joey Cantillo, to the Cleveland Indians in exchange for Mike Clevinger, Greg Allen, and Matt Waldron.{{cite web | last=Hoynes | first=Paul | title=Cleveland Indians trade Mike Clevinger, Greg Allen and player to be named to San Diego for six players | website=cleveland | date=August 31, 2020 | url=https://www.cleveland.com/tribe/2020/08/cleveland-indians-trade-right-hander-mike-clevinger-to-san-diego.html | access-date=January 1, 2025}} In the 2020 American League Wild Card Series, Naylor recorded five hits in his first five career postseason plate appearances, the first player in MLB history to do so.{{cite web | last=Bell | first=Mandy | title=Josh Naylor starts postseason 5-for-5 at the plate | website=MLB.com | date=October 1, 2020 | url=https://www.mlb.com/news/josh-naylor-postseason-hit-history-indians | access-date=January 1, 2025}}

During a game against the Minnesota Twins on June 27, 2021, Naylor collided with second baseman Ernie Clement while trying to catch a pop up in shallow right field. He broke and dislocated his ankle, which required season ending surgery.{{Cite web |date=June 28, 2021 |title=Indians' Naylor has broken ankle after collision |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/31725207/cleveland-indians-josh-naylor-broken-ankle-need-surgery-collision |access-date=January 1, 2025 |website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press |language=en}} In 69 appearances, Naylor had hit .253/.301/.399 with seven home runs and 22 RBI.{{Cite web|title=Josh Naylor 2021 batting Stats Per Game - MLB|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/gamelog/_/id/35066/year/2021/category/batting|access-date=January 23, 2025|website=espn.com|language=en}}

On May 9, 2022, in a game against the Chicago White Sox, Naylor became the first player in Major League history to hit two three-run home runs or grand slams in the ninth inning or later of the same game. He also became the first player to have at least eight RBI in the eighth inning or later since RBI became an official statistic in 1920. After an RBI-double in the 8th inning, his first home run was a game-tying grand slam in the top of the 9th off of Liam Hendriks to tie the game at eight runs apiece, then his second home run was a go-ahead three-run home run in the top of the 11th off of Ryan Burr which would win the game 12–9.{{cite web | last=Bell | first=Mandy | title=Josh Naylor homers twice in Guardians win over White Sox | website=MLB.com | date=May 10, 2022 | url=https://www.mlb.com/news/josh-naylor-homers-twice-in-guardians-win-over-white-sox | access-date=January 1, 2025}} Naylor played in 122 games for the Guardians, slashing .256/.319/.452 with 20 home runs and 79 RBI.{{Cite web|title=Josh Naylor 2022 batting Stats Per Game - MLB|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/gamelog/_/id/35066/year/2022/category/batting|access-date=January 23, 2025|website=espn.com|language=en}}

On January 13, 2023, Naylor agreed to a one-year, $3.35 million contract with the Guardians, avoiding salary arbitration.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/01/2023-mlb-arbitration-tracker.html|title=2023 MLB Arbitration Tracker|access-date=January 13, 2023|website=MLBTradeRumors}} In 121 games for Cleveland, he batted .308/.354/.489 with 17 home runs, 97 RBI, and 10 stolen bases.{{Cite web|title=Josh Naylor 2023 batting Stats Per Game - MLB|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/gamelog/_/id/35066/year/2023/category/batting|access-date=January 23, 2025|website=espn.com|language=en}} Naylor made 152 appearances for the Guardians during the 2024 campaign, hitting .243/.320/.456 with career-highs in home runs (31) and RBI (108).{{Cite web|title=Josh Naylor 2024 batting Stats Per Game - MLB|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/gamelog/_/id/35066/year/2024/category/batting|access-date=January 23, 2025|website=espn.com|language=en}}

=Arizona Diamondbacks=

On December 21, 2024, the Guardians traded Naylor to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for Slade Cecconi and a competitive balance draft pick in the 2025 Major League Baseball draft.{{cite news |last1=Lewis |first1=Ryan |title=Cleveland Guardians trade Josh Naylor, re-acquire Carlos Santana |url=https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/sports/mlb/cleveland-guardians/2024/12/21/guardians-trade-josh-naylor-to-diamondbacks-for-slade-cecconi-carlos-santana-cleveland-arizona-2025/77138183007/ |access-date=December 23, 2024 |work=Akron Beacon Journal |date=December 21, 2024}}{{cite news |last1=Gilbert |first1=Steve |title=D-backs acquire Josh Naylor in trade with Guardians |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/josh-naylor-traded-to-d-backs |access-date=December 23, 2024 |work=MLB.com |date=December 21, 2024}}

Player profile

Naylor is {{convert|5|ft|11|in}} tall and weighs {{convert|257|lbs}}. He profiles as a power hitter, and Greg Hamilton, the coach of the Canadian national junior team, described Naylor's hitting approach as "advanced".{{cite web|url=http://m.bluejays.mlb.com/news/article/61429974/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518072436/http://m.bluejays.mlb.com/news/article/61429974/|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 18, 2015|title=Naylor, Orimoloye impressing at Tournament 12|first=Chris|last=Toman|work=MLB.com|date=September 22, 2013|access-date=May 8, 2015}}

Personal life

Naylor is the eldest of three brothers — himself, Bo and Myles — born to Chris and Jenice Naylor{{cite web |url=http://www.prepbaseballreport.com/news/ON/Big-Time-Power-Hitting-15-Josh-Naylor-breaks-down-past-present-and-future-6752894310|title=Big Time Power Hitting '15 Josh Naylor Breaks Down Past, Present and Future|date=October 16, 2014|access-date=June 16, 2015|work=Prep Baseball Report}} in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. His brother, Bo Naylor, was drafted in the first round of the 2018 MLB draft by the Cleveland Guardians,{{cite web|author=Melissa Couto |url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/baseball/2017/07/12/naylor-brothers-josh-noah-rising-to-mlb-prominence-after-all-star-events.html |title=Naylor brothers Josh, Noah rising on MLB radar | Toronto Star |work=Thestar.com |date=July 12, 2017 |access-date=April 9, 2018}} The youngest brother, Myles Naylor, plays for the Athletics organization.{{cite web | last=Castrovince | first=Anthony | title=Myles, Bo and Josh Naylor discuss brotherhood | website=MLB.com | date=July 10, 2023 | url=https://www.mlb.com/news/myles-bo-and-josh-naylor-discuss-brotherhood | access-date=January 1, 2025}} Denzel Clarke is a cousin.{{Cite web |last=Gallegos |first=Martin |date=March 11, 2025 |title=For A's No. 6 prospect Clarke, Spring Breakout is a family affair |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/denzel-clarke-to-play-alongside-cousin-in-spring-breakout |work=MLB.com|accessdate=May 24, 2025}}

Naylor has been married to singer-songwriter Chantel Collado since January 2025.{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CthuyU9yU-J/|title=CHANTEL on Instagram: "06.12.23 💍 ~ I choose you forever, baby ♾️ • @annielouisewilkins 📸"|website=Instagram}}https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/sports/mlb/cleveland-guardians/2024/10/19/josh-naylor-girlfriend-chantel-collado-fiancee/75760442007/