Josh Naylor, known for being one of the biggest and slowest players in Major League Baseball, has surprisingly emerged as one of the league’s top base stealers, accumulating 22 stolen bases this season. His 11 steals over the past month equate to those of faster players like Ellie De La Cruz and Jaren Duran. Despite his size at 235 pounds and ranking low in sprint speed, Naylor’s success stems from his strategic base running and keen awareness of patterns in the game.
Naylor attributes his achievements to a fearless mindset when seizing opportunities rather than raw speed. His brother, Bo Naylor, a catcher for the Cleveland Guardians, highlights Josh’s intelligence and ability to read situations, allowing him to capitalize on opponents’ mistakes. This season, Naylor has successfully stolen bases at a 92% rate and has only been caught once in four months.
Notably, he made a significant impact after being traded to the Mariners, stealing multiple bases in critical games. As both Naylor brothers prepare to face each other in an upcoming series, the spotlight remains on Josh, who acknowledges he would likely attempt to steal against his brother, given the competitive context.
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