Guardians' Josh Naylor Overlooked Yet Again

Josh Naylor was not a Gold Glove Finalist despite being one of the best first basemen in MLB.

Does a player need constant praise to know that they are good? No, but a little recognition goes a long way - especially when they deserve it.

Josh Naylor emerged as one of the best players on the Cleveland Guardians but hasn't received any credit outside of his own city for this breakout season.

There's been so much focus on how Naylor has become one of the best bats in Cleveland's lineup while overcoming his most significant weaknesses at the plate. 

Yes, all of that is true. But Naylor's impact doesn't end in the batter's box.

Rawlings announced their finalists for the 2023 Gold Glove Award on Wednesday afternoon and the Guardians had a couple of representatives. 

Let's focus on a position in which Cleveland doesn't have representation. Those nominated for first base in the American League were Nathaniel Lowe, Ryan Mountcastle, and Anthony Rizzo.

All of these players are fantastic in their own right but, respectfully, Naylor deserves to be a finalist.

Cleveland's first baseman had a field run value of four which was the second highest among American League first basemen (minimum 500 innings). Rizzo was nearly ahead of him with a value of five, Lowe was at two, and Mountcastle had a value of zero, per Baseball Savant.

Mountcastle was a finalist but didn't even have the highest fielding run value on his own team.

Jun 11, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians first baseman Josh Naylor (22) stands on the field in the fifth inning against the Houston Astros at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports / © David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Naylor also ranked in the 88th percentile with five outs above average. Again, this was better than both Montcastle and Lowe while being barely behind Rizzo.

This isn't the first time that Naylor has been passed on for some national recognition. He wasn't voted to be a starter in the 2023 All-Star Game and was still neglected by the Commissioner's Office vote and player ballot despite being the clear best choice. 

These awards and accolades are all about showcasing the best players our game has to offer. Unfortunately, that's not always the case and Naylor's absence is once again an example.