Josh Naylor has been a Mariner for barely three months, and it’s not a guarantee by any stretch that the pending free agent will return in 2026. But Mariners fans love him like he’s spent a decade in Seattle.

He endeared himself to the PNW, certainly with his play on the field, but it was much more than that. His personality is a perfect fit, and despite that short tenure (so far) in Seattle, he was already trusted as a leader by all. It was Naylor who would often join Cal Raleigh to conference with a pitcher.

Simply put, he’s a perfect fit for the Mariners in every way. And he’s always been that way.

While the Mariners were in Toronto for the ALCS, we decided to stop by his old high school, St. Joan of Arc Catholic Secondary School in Josh’s hometown of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

It’s there that a display case with Josh and his brother Bo’s (of the Cleveland Guardians) bats are on display.

Every teacher, coach, and counselor we talked to said the same thing: Josh Naylor is of the highest character. He was growing up, and he still is today.

“He is the most humble person you’d ever want to meet,” said Selene Wood, who works in the guidance office at the school.

“He does everything for charity, he’s always helping people, he’s always coming back to the school, and says hello to his old coaches. He always makes time for his teachers when he comes back. He’s just a lovely, lovely soul” Wood adds.

Selene has several pictures of Josh and his family in her office.

Before working in the guidance office, Wood worked in attendance. That’s when Josh and his then-high school girlfriend Chantel would visit her office and tell her they would get married one day.

And that’s exactly what they did, welcoming their first child to the world earlier this month.

“He’s just such a family man, he loves his family, his family is his world. Yes, he loves baseball, but his family, his parents, and his siblings are just his world,” Wood tells us.

Josh graduated from the school in 2015, yet ten years later always tries to connect with those he was closest to like “Ms. Wood” and several others. So much that the St. Joan of Arc community is like family as well. Fittingly, Josh’s MLB debut while playing with the Padres in 2019 was against the Blue Jays in Toronto and the school community came out for support. That picture was seen a few times, displayed so proudly by his school community.

That is who Josh Naylor is. That foundation is why he was beloved by Mariners fans–and most importantly, his Mariners teammates. I was struck by, in the immediate aftermath of the Game 7 loss, how Naylor went up to every player in the Mariners clubhouse. He offered a hug and handshake with a unique word of thanks or encouragement.

He’s a leader in every way. And you really, truly understand why that is when visiting where he grew up. Simply put, he was always that way.

While in high school, obviously, Josh was a prolific baseball player. So he actually played travel ball and on the Canadian National team instead of for St. Joan of Arc’s team.

But he did want to help his school athletically. So he joined a team.

The Volleyball team.

Not surprisingly, he was a star there too. His coach in those days, David Primier is still at the school and is currently the head of special education.

He tells a story of how Josh was so athletic, he once took the perfect setup from a teammate and spiked it with such force that it ricocheted off an opposing player’s head, bouncing all the way to the ceiling of the gym. A spectacle for anyone who saw it.

But that’s not what makes the story—-or Josh Naylor special.

“It was the concern on Josh’s face,” Primier says of what he remembers most from that moment.

“So as soon as that rally was done, he looked at the ref ‘is it okay if I go under the net?’ He wanted to make sure that player was okay. Even though it was the most incredible thing to watch from the bench. His first concern is, ‘I hope I didn’t hurt that other player.’ That’s what I remember the most about Josh.”

It’s stories like that, certainly highlighting the person Naylor is, that help you understand why he’s so special.

There are a lot of talented baseball players out there. But the rare ones, like Naylor and several other Mariners players, are what make the clubhouse so cohesive that they can bounce back from almost every situation.

The culture helped the Mariners be clutch. Naylor’s arrival in July enhanced it exponentially.

Making a special place and chemistry even more dynamic.

If the M’s can convince him to stay, they’ll remain contenders because of that perfect blend of talent and comradery. To that point, Jerry Dipoto calls trying to re-sign Josh “Obviously, a priority”

Something that the folks we talked to at St. Joan of Arc would love to see, because they saw how much Josh enjoyed Seattle and being with the Mariners.

And whether that’s in Seattle, Toronto or somewhere else, they all just want what’s best for Naylor. Someone who has always given his best to that community, inspiring the next generation coming up.

And when we say he has always displayed the qualities that endeared himself to M’s fans, we mean it.

Including that ever-serious gameday face.

“So quite a few people comment on his serious face” said Natalie Meier, Head of Guidance at the school.

“Is he okay? Is he angry? That’s just him in the zone” Meier said.

Boy, does he lock in on that zone or what? Easily the most consistent Mariners hitter after he arrived with so many clutch moments in just a couple months.

While it’s relatively unclear what’s next for Josh, even if all of the Pacific Northwest hopes his career continues in Seattle, one thing is certain.

He’s an instant credit to any clubhouse or team. Without him, who knows how far the Mariners go in 2025.

He’s a perfect fit in Seattle in every way, and if he wants it? He can be a Mariners legend and mainstay to this city and that franchise forever.