Bo Naylor Stats & Scouting Report — College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects

AB	34
AVG	.176
OBP	.333
SLG	.353
HR	2

Full name Noah G. Naylor
Born 02/21/2000 in Mississauga, ON, Canada
Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 205 / Bats: L / Throws: R
School Saint Joan Of Arc
Debut 10/01/2022
Drafted in the 1st round (29th overall) by the Cleveland Guardians in 2018 (signed for $2,578,137).

View Draft Report

The younger brother of current Padres prospect Josh Naylor, Noah is an impressive draft prospect in his own right, albeit a different sort of hitter than his brother. Whereas Josh showed immense power as an amateur, the younger Naylor is more hit over power, handling the offensive game from foul pole to foul pole but with the same long track record of success that Josh was afforded as a member of the Canadian Junior National Team. There are some scouts who would say Naylor has the best hit tool among all prep hitters in the 2018 class, led by a pure swing and the ability to adjust pitch-to-pitch, while also manipulating the barrel in each part of the strike zone. While he doesn't have the elite power his older brother possesses, he does have present pop--it just doesn't always show up in games. Many scouts think the power will continue to develop and improve, however. How high a team has Naylor on their board will depend on where they see him defensively. He's a good enough athlete to catch and has a strong arm, but he can get lazy at times behind the dish and needs a lot of refinement. Some teams think he can turn into a solid third baseman, where he's played frequently with Canada and over the showcase circuit while making all the routine plays. If neither of those work out, Naylor's bat should still be good enough to play in a corner outfield position.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade/Risk: 55/High

Track Record: After a trying 2021 season, Naylor bounced back in a big way in 2022. He started the year back with Double-A Akron, where he had struggled a year prior, and eventually played his way all the way to his major league debut. Naylor joined his older brother Josh with the Guardians, and they became the 11th set of brothers to play for the franchise. He made the Guardians' playoff roster but did not appear in a postseason game.

Scouting Report: Naylor got back on track at the plate in part because he overhauled his swing and got his strikeout rate back under control, lowering it from 31.5% in 2021 to 23.7% in 2022, while also raising his walk rate. His improved plate control was a return to his historical norms as a hitter, while he also showed off his above-average power potential and speed. Naylor hit 21 home runs and stole 20 bases, an incredibly rare pairing for a catcher. His combination of power, speed and a disciplined plate approach makes for an impressive offensive profile. Defensively, Naylor has made some important strides over the last two years. His athleticism has always played well behind the plate, and he earns high grades for his blocking and framing ability. He's also worked hard to improve his throwing ability and has cut down the frequency with which opponents run on him, which was a concern early in his professional career. He has earned the respect of pitchers in the organization, who enjoy working with him.

The Future: Naylor will be 23 on Opening Day in 2023, and after making the postseason roster he'll have a chance to open the season with the Guardians, particularly with Austin Hedges entering free agency. Naylor brings a rare profile to catching and can impact the game in multiple ways.

Scouting Grades: Hitting: 50. Power: 50. Speed: 50. Fielding: 55. Arm: 55
Track Record: For perhaps the first time in his career, Naylor had an extended period of struggles in 2021. After a distinguished amateur career that led Cleveland to draft him 29th overall in 2019 and a fast start to his pro career, Naylor never got his bat going in Double-A. He hit just .188/.280/.332 in 87 games for the RubberDucks, although he was one of the youngest players at the level and was also dealing with the rigors of catching.

Scouting Report: Naylor’s step back offensively was particularly surprising after his impressive performance in 2020 at the alternate training site. Initially, he was seen as being more of a contact hitter than a slugger, but his strikeout rate increased and his walk rate decreased as he struggled with more advanced pitching. He still has solid power and drives balls well to go with average speed. Naylor’s athleticism plays well behind the plate as a blocker, and he earns high grades for his framing ability. He played a lot of third base as an amateur but has been exclusively a catcher the last three seasons and has proven he can handle the position.

The Future: Naylor will still be just 22 years old on Opening Day in 2022. He has a clear path to Cleveland, where he would join his older brother Josh, but he’ll need to first work out his offensive issues.
Hitting: 55. Power: 50. Running: 50. Fielding: 55. Arm: 60.

TRACK RECORD: Naylor compiled a long track record of success as an amateur, especially facing premier competition with the Canadian junior national team. That helped ease his transition to pro ball after the Indians drafted him 29th overall in 2018. Naylor held his own in the low Class A Midwest League in 2019 and spent 2020 at the alternate training site. Midway through the season, the Indians acquired his older brother Josh from the Padres in the trade that sent Mike Clevinger to San Diego.

SCOUTING REPORT: Naylor had perhaps the best offensive performance of any prospect at the alternate site. He has an advanced hit tool thanks to his smooth swing, pitch recognition and approach. His solid-average power hasn’t always played in games, but he makes consistent hard contact and has the ability to drive the ball. Naylor is an above-average runner and his athleticism plays well behind the plate. He earns high grades for pitch framing and he threw out 37% of basestealers in 2019. Naylor still has work to do to refine his defense, but he’s shown enough to quell talk of a potential move to third base, where he played a lot as an amateur.

THE FUTURE: Naylor will be just 21 in 2021 and remains ahead of the curve. He may see Double-A during the season.
TRACK RECORD: Naylor, the younger brother of Padres first baseman Josh Naylor, compiled a long track record of success as an amateur, especially facing premium competition with the Canadian Junior National Team. That helped ease his transition into his first year of pro ball, when he found success as a 19-year-old in the Midwest League.

SCOUTING REPORT: Naylor, like his older brother, has standout offensive tools, but he's a different kind of hitter. He's more hit-over-power, though he has solid pop as well. He has an advanced hit tool thanks to his smooth swing, pitch recognition and approach. His power showed up more in 2019 than it had previously, and he makes consistent hard contact and has the ability to drive the ball. Naylor is an above-average runner and his athleticism plays well behind the plate. He earns high grades for pitch-framing, and his strong arm helped him throw out 37 percent of basestealers, but teams were still very willing to test him, attempting 128 stolen bases in 85 games. Still, Naylor has proven himself enough defensively to largely quell any talk of him moving to third base, where he played a lot as an amateur.

THE FUTURE: Naylor will continue to work on refining his defensive skills in 2020 at high Class A Lynchburg, when he will be just 20 years old.
Track Record: Naylor, the younger brother of Padres' prospect Josh Naylor, starred on the showcase circuit and with the Canadian Junior National Team, compiling a long track record of success. The Indians drafted him 29th overall and sent him to the Rookie-level Arizona League, where he had a solid summer.

Scouting Report: Naylor, like his older brother, stands out for his offensive skills, but he's a different kind of hitter. He's a plus hitter with average power. There were some scouts who believed Naylor had the best hit tool among all prep hitters in his draft class thanks to his smooth swing, pitch recognition and approach. His power hasn't always played in games, but he makes consistent hard contact and has the ability to drive the ball. Naylor is an above-average runner and his athleticism plays well behind the plate, as does his plus arm. Like all high school catchers, he'll need to refine his catching skills. He also played a lot of third base as an amateur and he profiles well at the hot corner, but the Indians are committed to him catching.

The Future: The Indians in recent years have taken a conservative approach with their highly drafted prep bats. That means Naylor probably will head to short-season Mahoning Valley as a 19-year-old.

Draft Prospects

The younger brother of current Padres prospect Josh Naylor, Noah is an impressive draft prospect in his own right, albeit a different sort of hitter than his brother. Whereas Josh showed immense power as an amateur, the younger Naylor is more hit over power, handling the offensive game from foul pole to foul pole but with the same long track record of success that Josh was afforded as a member of the Canadian Junior National Team. There are some scouts who would say Naylor has the best hit tool among all prep hitters in the 2018 class, led by a pure swing and the ability to adjust pitch-to-pitch, while also manipulating the barrel in each part of the strike zone. While he doesn't have the elite power his older brother possesses, he does have present pop--it just doesn't always show up in games. Many scouts think the power will continue to develop and improve, however. How high a team has Naylor on their board will depend on where they see him defensively. He's a good enough athlete to catch and has a strong arm, but he can get lazy at times behind the dish and needs a lot of refinement. Some teams think he can turn into a solid third baseman, where he's played frequently with Canada and over the showcase circuit while making all the routine plays. If neither of those work out, Naylor's bat should still be good enough to play in a corner outfield position.

Minor League Top Prospects

Naylor was the second member of his family to be picked in the draft’s first round, with brother Josh having been selected three years earlier by the Marlins. Lefthanded power runs in the family, but the younger Naylor is more athletic with a chance of playing multiple positions. A natural hitter who has a combination of both hit and power, he gets good leverage in his swing and has excellent balance at the plate. He doesn’t expand the zone, hits to all fields and runs better than expected for his stout frame. Behind the plate, Naylor’s arm is at least solid-average with some scouts grading it higher, helping him throw out 12 of 42 runners this summer. He receives the ball well but his feet and hands don’t always work well together. Naylor has the skills to be at least a solid-average catcher.

Top 100 Rankings

Best Tools List

Rated Best Defensive Catcher in the Cleveland Guardians in 2020

Scouting Reports

BA Grade/Risk: 55/High

Track Record: After a trying 2021 season, Naylor bounced back in a big way in 2022. He started the year back with Double-A Akron, where he had struggled a year prior, and eventually played his way all the way to his major league debut. Naylor joined his older brother Josh with the Guardians, and they became the 11th set of brothers to play for the franchise. He made the Guardians' playoff roster but did not appear in a postseason game.

Scouting Report: Naylor got back on track at the plate in part because he overhauled his swing and got his strikeout rate back under control, lowering it from 31.5% in 2021 to 23.7% in 2022, while also raising his walk rate. His improved plate control was a return to his historical norms as a hitter, while he also showed off his above-average power potential and speed. Naylor hit 21 home runs and stole 20 bases, an incredibly rare pairing for a catcher. His combination of power, speed and a disciplined plate approach makes for an impressive offensive profile. Defensively, Naylor has made some important strides over the last two years. His athleticism has always played well behind the plate, and he earns high grades for his blocking and framing ability. He's also worked hard to improve his throwing ability and has cut down the frequency with which opponents run on him, which was a concern early in his professional career. He has earned the respect of pitchers in the organization, who enjoy working with him.

The Future: Naylor will be 23 on Opening Day in 2023, and after making the postseason roster he'll have a chance to open the season with the Guardians, particularly with Austin Hedges entering free agency. Naylor brings a rare profile to catching and can impact the game in multiple ways.

Scouting Grades: Hitting: 50. Power: 50. Speed: 50. Fielding: 55. Arm: 55
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High

Track Record: After a trying 2021 season, Naylor bounced back in a big way in 2022. He started the year back with Double-A Akron, where he had struggled a year prior, and eventually played his way all the way to his major league debut. Naylor joined his older brother Josh with the Guardians, and they became the 11th set of brothers to play for the franchise. He made the Guardians' playoff roster but did not appear in a postseason game.

Scouting Report: Naylor got back on track at the plate in part because he overhauled his swing and got his strikeout rate back under control, lowering it from 31.5% in 2021 to 23.7% in 2022, while also raising his walk rate. His improved plate control was a return to his historical norms as a hitter, while he also showed off his above-average power potential and speed. Naylor hit 21 home runs and stole 20 bases, an incredibly rare pairing for a catcher. His combination of power, speed and a disciplined plate approach makes for an impressive offensive profile. Defensively, Naylor has made some important strides over the last two years. His athleticism has always played well behind the plate, and he earns high grades for his blocking and framing ability. He's also worked hard to improve his throwing ability and has cut down the frequency with which opponents run on him, which was a concern early in his professional career. He has earned the respect of pitchers in the organization, who enjoy working with him.

The Future: Naylor will be 23 on Opening Day in 2023, and after making the postseason roster he'll have a chance to open the season with the Guardians, particularly with Austin Hedges entering free agency. Naylor brings a rare profile to catching and can impact the game in multiple ways.

Scouting Grades: Hitting: 50. Power: 50. Speed: 50. Fielding: 55. Arm: 55
BA Grade: 55/Very High

Track Record: For perhaps the first time in his career, Naylor underwent an extended period of struggles in 2021. After a distinguished amateur career that led the Indians to draft him 29th overall in 2019 and a fast start to his pro career, Naylor never got his bat going in Double-A. He hit just .188/.280/.332 in 87 games for the RubberDucks, although he was one of the youngest players at the level and was also dealing with the rigors of catching.

Scouting Report: Naylor&#39s step back offensively was particularly surprising after his impressive performance in 2020 at the alternate training site. Initially, he was seen as being more of a contact hitter than a slugger, but his strikeout rate increased and his walk rate decreased as he struggled with more advanced pitching. He still has solid power and drives balls well to go with above-average speed. Naylor&#39s athleticism plays well behind the plate as a blocker, and he earns high grades for his framing ability. He played a lot of third base as an amateur but has been exclusively a catcher the last three seasons and has proven he can handle the position.

The Future: Naylor will still be just 22 years old on Opening Day in 2022. He has a clear path to Cleveland, where he would join his older brother Josh, but he&#39ll need to first work out his offensive issues.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 40. Power: 50. Speed: 50. Fielding: 55. Arm: 60.
Track Record: For perhaps the first time in his career, Naylor had an extended period of struggles in 2021. After a distinguished amateur career that led Cleveland to draft him 29th overall in 2019 and a fast start to his pro career, Naylor never got his bat going in Double-A. He hit just .188/.280/.332 in 87 games for the RubberDucks, although he was one of the youngest players at the level and was also dealing with the rigors of catching.

Scouting Report: Naylor’s step back offensively was particularly surprising after his impressive performance in 2020 at the alternate training site. Initially, he was seen as being more of a contact hitter than a slugger, but his strikeout rate increased and his walk rate decreased as he struggled with more advanced pitching. He still has solid power and drives balls well to go with average speed. Naylor’s athleticism plays well behind the plate as a blocker, and he earns high grades for his framing ability. He played a lot of third base as an amateur but has been exclusively a catcher the last three seasons and has proven he can handle the position.

The Future: Naylor will still be just 22 years old on Opening Day in 2022. He has a clear path to Cleveland, where he would join his older brother Josh, but he’ll need to first work out his offensive issues.
Hitting: 55. Power: 50. Running: 50. Fielding: 55. Arm: 60.

TRACK RECORD: Naylor compiled a long track record of success as an amateur, especially facing premier competition with the Canadian junior national team. That helped ease his transition to pro ball after the Indians drafted him 29th overall in 2018. Naylor held his own in the low Class A Midwest League in 2019 and spent 2020 at the alternate training site. Midway through the season, the Indians acquired his older brother Josh from the Padres in the trade that sent Mike Clevinger to San Diego.

SCOUTING REPORT: Naylor had perhaps the best offensive performance of any prospect at the alternate site. He has an advanced hit tool thanks to his smooth swing, pitch recognition and approach. His solid-average power hasn't always played in games, but he makes consistent hard contact and has the ability to drive the ball. Naylor is an above-average runner and his athleticism plays well behind the plate. He earns high grades for pitch framing and he threw out 37% of basestealers in 2019. Naylor still has work to do to refine his defense, but he's shown enough to quell talk of a potential move to third base, where he played a lot as an amateur.

THE FUTURE: Naylor will be just 21 in 2021 and remains ahead of the curve. He may see Double-A during the season.
Hitting: 55. Power: 50. Running: 50. Fielding: 55. Arm: 60.

TRACK RECORD: Naylor compiled a long track record of success as an amateur, especially facing premier competition with the Canadian junior national team. That helped ease his transition to pro ball after the Indians drafted him 29th overall in 2018. Naylor held his own in the low Class A Midwest League in 2019 and spent 2020 at the alternate training site. Midway through the season, the Indians acquired his older brother Josh from the Padres in the trade that sent Mike Clevinger to San Diego.

SCOUTING REPORT: Naylor had perhaps the best offensive performance of any prospect at the alternate site. He has an advanced hit tool thanks to his smooth swing, pitch recognition and approach. His solid-average power hasn’t always played in games, but he makes consistent hard contact and has the ability to drive the ball. Naylor is an above-average runner and his athleticism plays well behind the plate. He earns high grades for pitch framing and he threw out 37% of basestealers in 2019. Naylor still has work to do to refine his defense, but he’s shown enough to quell talk of a potential move to third base, where he played a lot as an amateur.

THE FUTURE: Naylor will be just 21 in 2021 and remains ahead of the curve. He may see Double-A during the season.
Hitting: 55. Power: 50. Running: 50. Fielding: 55. Arm: 60.

TRACK RECORD: Naylor compiled a long track record of success as an amateur, especially facing premier competition with the Canadian junior national team. That helped ease his transition to pro ball after the Indians drafted him 29th overall in 2018. Naylor held his own in the low Class A Midwest League in 2019 and spent 2020 at the alternate training site. Midway through the season, the Indians acquired his older brother Josh from the Padres in the trade that sent Mike Clevinger to San Diego.

SCOUTING REPORT: Naylor had perhaps the best offensive performance of any prospect at the alternate site. He has an advanced hit tool thanks to his smooth swing, pitch recognition and approach. His solid-average power hasn’t always played in games, but he makes consistent hard contact and has the ability to drive the ball. Naylor is an above-average runner and his athleticism plays well behind the plate. He earns high grades for pitch framing and he threw out 37% of basestealers in 2019. Naylor still has work to do to refine his defense, but he’s shown enough to quell talk of a potential move to third base, where he played a lot as an amateur.

THE FUTURE: Naylor will be just 21 in 2021 and remains ahead of the curve. He may see Double-A during the season.
TRACK RECORD: Naylor, the younger brother of Padres first baseman Josh Naylor, compiled a long track record of success as an amateur, especially facing premium competition with the Canadian Junior National Team. That helped ease his transition into his first year of pro ball, when he found success as a 19-year-old in the Midwest League.

SCOUTING REPORT: Naylor, like his older brother, has standout offensive tools, but he’s a different kind of hitter. He’s more hit-over-power, though he has solid pop as well. He has an advanced hit tool thanks to his smooth swing, pitch recognition and approach. His power showed up more in 2019 than it had previously, and he makes consistent hard contact and has the ability to drive the ball. Naylor is an above-average runner and his athleticism plays well behind the plate. He earns high grades for pitch-framing, and his strong arm helped him throw out 37 percent of basestealers, but teams were still very willing to test him, attempting 128 stolen bases in 85 games. Still, Naylor has proven himself enough defensively to largely quell any talk of him moving to third base, where he played a lot as an amateur.

THE FUTURE: Naylor will continue to work on refining his defensive skills in 2020 at high Class A Lynchburg, when he will be just 20 years old.
TRACK RECORD: Naylor, the younger brother of Padres first baseman Josh Naylor, compiled a long track record of success as an amateur, especially facing premium competition with the Canadian Junior National Team. That helped ease his transition into his first year of pro ball, when he found success as a 19-year-old in the Midwest League.

SCOUTING REPORT: Naylor, like his older brother, has standout offensive tools, but he's a different kind of hitter. He's more hit-over-power, though he has solid pop as well. He has an advanced hit tool thanks to his smooth swing, pitch recognition and approach. His power showed up more in 2019 than it had previously, and he makes consistent hard contact and has the ability to drive the ball. Naylor is an above-average runner and his athleticism plays well behind the plate. He earns high grades for pitch-framing, and his strong arm helped him throw out 37 percent of basestealers, but teams were still very willing to test him, attempting 128 stolen bases in 85 games. Still, Naylor has proven himself enough defensively to largely quell any talk of him moving to third base, where he played a lot as an amateur.

THE FUTURE: Naylor will continue to work on refining his defensive skills in 2020 at high Class A Lynchburg, when he will be just 20 years old.
Naylor, the younger brother of Padres’ prospect Josh Naylor, was the Indians’ top pick in this year’s draft, going 29th overall, and signed for slightly above pick value. The Canadian native stands out for his hittability and drives the ball to all fields. He has good athleticism and could play third base, but the Indians will keep him behind the plate where his above-average arm strength plays well.