Fastball

Cleveland Guardians' Josh Naylor Joins Legends in Canadian Baseball Record Books

The Cleveland Guardians beat the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday night as they continue to pace the American League Central. In the win, Josh Naylor continued his excellent season at the plate, making some Canadian Baseball history in the process.

Brady Farkas

Cleveland Guardians designated hitter Josh Naylor (22) celebrates his solo home run in the fourth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Progressive Field on July 5.
Cleveland Guardians designated hitter Josh Naylor (22) celebrates his solo home run in the fourth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Progressive Field on July 5. / David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
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The Cleveland Guardians continued their incredible season on Tuesday night with a 9-8 victory the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park.

The Guardians, who lead the American League Central, are now 57-33 on the year. In the win, Josh Naylor also continued his torrid season at the plate by going 3-for-4 with a homer and four RBI. It was his 22nd home run and led him to 70 RBI on the year.

The excellent first half of the season has put Naylor in some great company among Canadian baseball legends.

Per @StatsCentre on social media:

Canadian players to reach the 70 RBI mark in a season in 86 or fewer games on multiple occasions in their career:
Josh Naylor (2023 and 2024 via recording 4 in tonight's @CLEGuardians win vs DET)
Justin Morneau (3 times: 2006-07, 2009)
Larry Walker (4 times: 1997, 1999, 2001-02)

Walker is in the Hall of Fame and Morneau is a national icon, so that's great company to be in for the 27-year-old slugger. In the past offseason, there were rumors that the Seattle Mariners were looking to acquire Naylor and it appears Cleveland made the right move by holding onto him.

He's hitting .247 this year with the 22 homers. He's also posted a .324 on-base percentage.

The Guardians will play the Tigers again on Wednesday night with first pitch coming at 6:40 p.m. ET.

Tanner Bibee will pitch for Cleveland against righty Reese Olson. Bibee is 7-3 wit ha 3.67 ERA while Olson is 3-8 but carries an impressive 3.22.

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Brady Farkas
BRADY FARKAS

Brady Farkas is a baseball writer for Fastball on Sports Illustrated/FanNation and the host of 'The Payoff Pitch' podcast which can be found on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Videos on baseball also posted to YouTube. Brady has spent nearly a decade in sports talk radio and is a graduate of Oswego State University. You can follow him on Twitter @WDEVRadioBrady. 

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