It’s fair to say that Bo Naylor hasn’t lived up to being a top prospect in the Cleveland Guardians organization after being selected in the first round of the 2018 MLB Draft.
That said, he’s still a relatively young player and has made plenty of strides since making his MLB debut in 2022.
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Guardians skipper Stephen Vogt has loved the development he’s seen from the 25-year-old and is expecting big things from him in the 2026 season. Cleveland’s manager went as far as to say in an interview with MLB Network that he’s expecting a “breakout year” from Bo next year.
“Bo, he made a huge adjustment with his lower half, and it was in the second half, and we saw him; his misses were better,” explained Vogt.
”He was getting more clutch hits, like you said. He just has a knack of coming through, and that’s huge. You can’t teach that. Yeah. So he’s got some things he’s still working on with the swing, but I think Bo’s gonna have a breakout offensive season next year.”
Jul 5, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians catcher Bo Naylor (23) celebrates after hitting a double during the seventh inning against the Detroit Tigers at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Bo’s overall offensive numbers don’t look great, registering an OPS+ of 82 for the entirety of the 2025 season.
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Vogt points out Naylor’s second-half success, and that was a fundamental factor for the catcher in 2025. After the All-Star Break, Bo had an OPS of .717, and in September, the left-handed hitter had a .290/.324/.548, including multiple clutch hits for the Guardians.
The Guardians should be encouraged about what they could see from Naylor next season because of his strong end to the season.
Not only did Bo show positive signs in the batter’s box, but Vogt made sure to highlight the impact the catcher has behind the plate.
“As a catcher, Bo’s a leader. He calls an unbelievable game. The receiving’s good, the throwing is good. I mean, he’s the best athlete behind the plate in the game,” said Cleveland’s skipper.
If Bo can continue to make positive strides on offense while being a solid defensive catcher and game caller, then he could be one of the most valuable backstops in the game.