Can Guardians’ Bo Naylor Sustain His 2023 Late-Season Success In 2024?

Cleveland's catcher was one of the premier catchers in MLB during his final 28 games of the 2023 season.

After being named to the Cleveland Guardians’ 2022 AL Wild Card and ALDS rosters and playing a regular season game this year on May 21st, Bo Naylor became Cleveland’s mainstay catcher on June 17th.

It took the 23-year-old about two months to find his stride against Major League competition.

In his first 38 games after his June 17th promotion, which spanned through August 18th, Naylor hit .183 with 21 hits, four home runs, 14 RBI, five doubles, and a .602 OPS.

However, from August 19th through the end of the regular season, he was one of the premier catchers in MLB. In his final 28 games of the year, Naylor hit .321 with 26 hits, eight doubles, seven home runs, 18 RBI, and a 1.113 OPS.

Sep 16, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians catcher Bo Naylor (23) hits a single during the second inning against the Texas Rangers at Progressive Field / © Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

His 1.113 OPS in this span led the American League (min. 90 plate appearances), and ranked second in MLB behind the Atlanta Braves’ Marcell Ozuna (1.165). 

Naylor also led MLB primary catchers (min. 90 plate appearances) in both on-base percentage (.434) and slugging percentage (.679).

He additionally ranked among MLB primary catchers (min. 90 plate appearances) in doubles (fourth), home runs (tied for fifth), walks (16, fifth), strikeouts (16, second-fewest), and stolen bases (four, tied for second).

Naylor became just the second Cleveland catcher since 2000 to post a batting average of .320-or-better and an OPS of 1.100-or-better over a 28-game span. Victor Martínez also achieved these marks across the 2008 and 2009 seasons.

The Guardians drafted Naylor out of high school with the 22nd overall pick of the 2018 MLB Draft. If he can sustain the success he had over the final 28 games of the 2023 season, he could not only live up to his first-round selection, but become Cleveland’s primary catcher for years to come.