Josh Naylor has flipped the script on what a big, power-focused first baseman can do on the basepaths. In a season that began with questions about his speed, the 235-pound veteran has emerged as one of the most prolific baserunners in baseball. Over the last month, Naylor swiped 11 bags—second only to the majors in that span—and he has 22 steals for the year, with half of them coming after the Mariners acquired him at the trade deadline. Remarkably, he’s been caught just twice all year, including once while attempting to steal home, and he hasn’t been picked off since late April.
Naylor’s speed isn’t raw sprint speed; it’s a blend of timing, pattern recognition and a fearless approach. He’s stealing at a 92 percent success rate this season, a mark that belies his physical profile and highlights how much his baserunning IQ matters. He’s ripped off five three-baggers this season, and he’s stolen bases against three Gold Glove-winning catchers. For a player of his size, these numbers are unprecedented, and they’ve drawn praise from teammates who know him best.
Bo Naylor, Josh’s brother and Guardians catcher, has been openly impressed by his big-league evolution. “For Josh, it’s the intellectual part of the game,” Bo said, emphasizing pattern recognition and the ability to exploit the pitcher-catcher dynamic. Coaches around him have long noted his baserunning instincts; Guardians first-base coach Sandy Alomar Jr. described him as having “a good baserunning IQ, good instincts,” able to see tendencies and seize openings.
The journey to this season’s surge is part of the story. Naylor spent seven big-league seasons with Cleveland, where speedsters usually handled the stolen bases while his job was driving them in. Still, he went 23-for-29 on steal attempts with the Guardians, suggesting he could be effective when opportunities appeared. After a winter trade to the Arizona Diamondbacks, he started the season with three steals in the first week, though he was temporarily slowed by a pair of early pickoffs before settling into a long stretch of success. A midseason move to the Mariners has only amplified that impact: since July 25, he’s added 11 more steals, and he’s recorded multiple-steal games in this stretch, including a two-steal performance against the White Sox rookie Kyle Teel.
Naylor has also proven adept against some of the game’s better throwing catchers. He’s stolen bases against J.T. Realmuto and Patrick Bailey, and even against Gold Glove winners like Jacob Stallings. Mariners’ coaches have emphasized that while speed helps, it’s the combination of patience, scouting, and execution that fuels his effectiveness on the bases.
This week presents a fascinating subplot as the Mariners head to Cleveland to face the Guardians, a team known for suppressing run creation and throwing out basestealers. Josh will be up against a familiar defense, and his brother will be behind the plate while the family plans to travel from home to watch. Bo Naylor candidly admitted he’d expect Josh to try again, saying, “I’d be shocked if he didn’t,” when asked whether his older brother would attempt a steal with the family in attendance.
Taken together, the latest chapters of Josh Naylor’s season paint a portrait of a player who’s transformed a perceived disadvantage into a weapon. He’s not the fastest player in the league, but he’s one of the most relentless and calculating baserunners in the game, turning opportunities into a personal statement about baseball intelligence and adaptability.
Additions that add value:
– What this means for the Mariners: Naylor’s baserunning adds a new dimension to Seattle’s lineup, forcing opponents to respect a fleet-footed threat even from a position not typically known for speed. This can create more run-producing chances for the middle of the order and pressure catchers to execute precise throws.
– A note on the bigger picture: Naylor’s season underscores how baserunning isn’t solely about sprint speed. It’s about reading pitchers, recognizing catcher tendencies, and making split-second decisions that maximize every opportunity on the bases.
Summary:
– Josh Naylor has 11 steals in the past month and 22 for the season, with only two times caught.
– He’s proving a big man can be a high-volume, high-success basestealer, driven by IQ and pattern recognition.
– His baserunning has included steals against elite catchers and in key moments, contributing to a Mariners surge after his midseason move.
– A forthcoming series against his former team, the Guardians, will pit brother against brother as family presence adds another layer to the storyline.
Positive note:
Naylor’s breakout on the bases is a hopeful reminder that players can redefine roles, leverage experience and study, and surprise us with skillsets that defy conventional expectations. His progress provides a real, tangible example of how baseball intelligence can translate into tangible on-field impact.
Notes:
– This piece draws on information reported by The Athletic’s Andy McCullough and Zack Meisel, and Mariners and Guardians perspectives shared by coaches and teammates.