Bo Naylor

Naylor took a sizable step back offensively in 2024 in his first full major-league season, seeing his wRC+ drop from 122 down to 74. In retrospect, it's something we probably should have seen coming, as taking on all the responsibilities required of a catcher in your age-24 season is a time-consuming endeavor and doesn't leave as much room as you'd like to work on your hitting. Naylor saw his strikeout rate spike to 31.4 percent and his walk rate drop to 7.5 percent. He also didn't have as much of a stolen base impact as many thought he would, swiping just six bags in nine attempts while sporting a sprint speed in the 28th percentile. To his credit, Naylor drew rave reviews for his defense and handling of the pitching staff, and it's fair to expect an offensive bump in 2025 now that he's more comfortable in the majors. The Guardians brought Austin Hedges back as the understudy to Naylor, who should again see most of his playing time versus right-handed pitching. Read Past Outlooks