Naylor did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of theCOVID-19 pandemic, though he was on the team's initial 60-man player pool for theabbreviated season.[11][12] In 2021, he played with theAkron RubberDucks,slashing .188/.280/.332 with 10 home runs and 44 RBI over 87 games.[13] In June, Naylor was selected to play in theAll-Star Futures Game.[14] In 2022, with Akron, Naylor had a .271 average, .898 OPS and six home runs. He was promoted to theColumbus Clippers in June.[15]
The Guardians selected Naylor's contract on October 1, 2022, adding him to theiractive roster.[16] He made his major league debut that night against theKansas City Royals as a defensive replacement. He made his first start the next day.[17] He batted 0-for-8 with 5 strikeouts in 5 October games against the Royals.[18] He was the third catcher on Cleveland's playoff roster but did not play in the postseason.[19]
In March 2023, Naylor played forCanada in the2023 World Baseball Classic.[20] The Guardians optioned Naylor to Columbus to start the 2023 season.[21] He was a top-70 prospect, according to MLB.com andBaseball America.[22] After appearing in one MLB game in May, he returned to Cleveland for good in late June. He earned his first MLB hit on June 21, a single against theOakland Athletics. He played in 67 games for Cleveland in 2023, hitting .237/.339/.470 with 11 home runs and 32 RBI.[23]
On May 4, 2024, Naylor hit his first careergrand slam offReid Detmers of theLos Angeles Angels.[24] He finished his first full season in the majors batting .201/.264/.350 with 13 home runs. He was an average batter from June through August, faring poorly in other months. He was above average defensively, excelling atpitch framing, according toStatcast.[25][26] Naylor played all 10 Cleveland postseason games, going hitless in the first seven games before getting 4 hits, including 2 doubles, in the last threeAmerican League (AL) Championship Series games.[27]
Naylor played in 123 games for the second consecutive season in 2025, slashing .195/.282/.379. He batted 1-for-8 as the Guardians lost in theAL Division Series.[22][27]
Naylor was born in Canada and is of Jamaican descent through his mother.[28] His older brother,Josh Naylor, was his teammate on the Cleveland Guardians from 2022 to 2024.[29] Their younger brother,Myles Naylor, plays in theAthletics organization,[30] as does their cousinDenzel Clarke.[31]
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