Bo Naylor

Bo Naylor's Biography

Bo Naylor, whose full name is Noah-Gibson “Bo” Naylor, is a renowned baseball player born on February 21, 2000, in Canada. He is a major player in Major League Baseball (MLB), acting as a professional baseball catcher for the Cleveland Guardians. His shining professional debut in MLB came in 2022, marking the beginning of his fruitful career in the major leagues.

Naylor’s journey into the world of professional baseball began at the St. Joan of Arc Catholic Secondary School in Mississauga, Ontario. Alongside his studies, he joined the Canadian junior national baseball team, showcasing his talents and determination early on. In 2017, he participated in the Under Armour All-America Game and the Under-18 Baseball World Cup which was held in Ontario. He committed to Texas A&M University to play college baseball, showing his undying passion for the sport.

However, the foundation of Naylor’s professional career was laid when the Cleveland Indians selected him in the first round of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft, making him the 29th pick overall. He chose to sign with Cleveland, bypassing his enrollment at Texas A&M. His decision bore fruit as he received a signing bonus of $2,578,138 and was placed in the Arizona League Indians. He played his inaugural season here, making a batting average of .274, hitting two home runs, and scoring 17 runs batted in (RBI) over 33 games.

Naylor’s 2019 season with the Lake County Captains proved promising. In 107 games, he managed a batting average of .243 with 11 home runs and 65 RBI. Unfortunately, the following year, he was unable to participate in any game due to the cancellation of the minor league season owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Naylor bounced back in 2021, playing for the Akron RubberDucks. He recorded batting statistics of .188/.280/.332 with ten home runs and 44 RBI over 87 games. His commendable performance led to his selection for the All-Star Futures Game in June.

Continuing with the RubberDucks in 2022, Naylor achieved a .271 average, .898 OPS, and six home runs. Subsequently, he was promoted to the Columbus Clippers in June, marking another step up in his professional career. Later in the year, on October 1, Naylor’s contract was selected by the Guardians, and he was added to their active roster. This marked his debut in the major league, playing against the Kansas City Royals as a defensive replacement. His first start was on the following day.

Before the onset of the baseball season in 2023, Naylor represented the Canadian national team in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. Despite his national representation, the Guardians decided to have him start the season with Columbus. He played for Cleveland throughout the season, totaling 67 games, and achieved a batting average of .237, with 11 home runs and 32 RBI.

One of his remarkable career highlights was on May 4, 2024, when he marked his first career grand slam off of Reid Detmers of the Los Angeles Angels.

Naylor is part of a sports-oriented family. His older brother, Josh Naylor, also plays for the Cleveland Guardians, performing as a first baseman and outfielder. His younger sibling, Myles Naylor, is also a professional baseball player for the Oakland Athletics organization. Bo Naylor’s baseball career is a testament to his athletic prowess, and he stands as an inspiring figure for budding baseball enthusiasts.