Along for the postseason ride in 2022, Guardians catcher now ‘coming into his own’ behind the plate

Naylor batted .201 with a .614 OPS, 13 home runs and 39 RBI over 123 games in his first full season as Cleveland’s catcher. He tied for fifth among AL backstops with 11 defensive runs saved and threw out 14.1% of base stealers while allowing seven passed balls in 899 1/3 innings.

Returning to the playoffs has allowed Naylor to revisit being a part of that postseason atmosphere and environment back in 2022. It is something he recalls as quite formative for his big league career.

“Everything was still very new,” he said. “Seeing the day-to-day, how the vibes are very different from the season just in terms of the overall atmosphere, whether it’s in the clubhouse or in the game. It was huge.”

Cleveland’s first-round draft pick in 2018 as a high school catcher out of Missassauga, ON in Canada, Naylor has flourished alongside his brother, Josh, who posted the first 30 home run, 100 RBI season of his career for the Guardians this year.

Manager Stephen Vogt said he is running out of ways to express how impressed he is with Naylor’s development and the way he has handled everything that the Guardians put on his plate. According to Vogt, he has navigated constant changes on the pitching staff, worked with Austin Hedges and David Fry on preparing for every game and made adjustments when necessary.

Vogt said the coaching staff and players around Naylor have helped him grow throughout the season.

“Bo’s game calling has come such a long way,” Vogt said. “Having Sandy (Alomar Jr) with him every day, Carl Willis, Joe Torres, Craig Albernaz, all the support that he has catching. Bo has taken it and run with it. He learns on the fly. He asks really good questions, and he wants to get better every day.”

Vogt said Naylor was productive over stretches at the plate, and was one of the club’s better hitters from an OPS standpoint after the All-Star Break.

“And he gets pitched tough,” Vogt said. “If you watch the at-bats, you have to make pitches to Bo. If you make a mistake, he’s going to get you.”

Vogt said Naylor has the biggest job on the team as catcher, preparing to call the game, preparing to coordinate the defense from at-bat to at-bat, developing relationships with pitchers and making sure he is staying ready from an offensive standpoint.

“We couldn’t have asked more from Bo this year,” Vogt said “I know there’s more on the bone there for him offensively, but we know he’s going to come into his own.”

Monday’s matchup with AL Cy Young Award frontrunner Tarik Skubal poses a different set of challenges for Naylor and the Guardians. Typically when a tough lefty is on the mound, the left-handed hitting Naylor found himself on the bench. He started just 19 games against a lefty in 2024.

Skubal’s consistency is what separates him from most pitchers, Naylor said. He has the ability to pitch in and out of the strike zone when he wants and has good command of multiple pitches

“I think he’s shown that he’s someone who will compete,” Naylor said. “We’re just going to continue to respect him but ultimately go out there and try to compete the way that we do.”

Monday’s start time could also play a role in Cleveland’s success with shadows creeping across the field for the 4:05 p.m. scheduled first pitch. Naylor’s perspective from behind the plate is unique, but does not give him an advantage when it comes to hitting in that environment.

“It’s definitely not something that I think anyone would put themselves in willingly, but ultimately it’s something that is going to be presented and you’ve just gotta accept it and approach the game in the right way and try your best to compete.”