Joshua-Douglas James Naylor, a formidable Canadian power hitter, serves as a first baseman and outfielder for the Cleveland Guardians in Major League Baseball (MLB). Born on June 22, 1997, in Mississauga, Ontario, to parents Chris and Jenice Naylor, he kicked off his baseball journey with the Ontario Blue Jays in the Premier Baseball League of Ontario (PBLO). In 2012, at 15, Josh earned a spot on the Canadian Junior National Baseball Team and won a silver medal at the Under-18 Baseball World Cup in South Korea.
Upon his impressive amateur career, Josh attended Texas Tech University, where he played college baseball for the Texas Tech Red Raiders. In May 2019, he made his MLB debut with the San Diego Padres in a game against the Toronto Blue Jays. However, he later exited the Padres as part of a trade deal that sent him, along with Austin Hedges, Cal Quantrill, and several minor league players, to the Cleveland Guardians.
Josh Naylor's MLB Playoff Appearances
Josh Naylor has competed in 19 postseason games over his MLB career as of 2024. His playoff journey began with the Cleveland Guardians in the 2020 American League Wild Card Series against the New York Yankees, where he made an unforgettable debut by recording five hits in just two games, achieving an impressive .714 batting average. This performance made him the first player in MLB history to accomplish such a feat. Since that remarkable start, Josh has remained a crucial member of the Guardians' lineup, contributing significantly during their postseason runs, including his 10 postseason appearances in 2024.
Year | Team | League | Series | Opponents | Results | Games Played |
2020 | Cleveland Guardians | AL | ALWC | New York Yankees | Lost | 2 |
2022 | Cleveland Guardians | AL | ALWC | Tampa Bay Rays | Won | 2 |
2022 | Cleveland Guardians | AL | ALDS | New York Yankees | Lost | 5 |
2024 | Cleveland Guardians | AL | ALDS | Detroit Tigers | Won | 5 |
2024 | Cleveland Guardians | AL | ALCS | New York Yankees | Lost | 5 |
Josh Naylor's Playoff Wins
Josh Naylor has achieved two series wins in his postseason career. The first came in the 2022 American League Wild Card Series (ALWC) against the Tampa Bay Rays, where he posted a .222 batting average with two hits. His second victory occurred in the 2024 American League Division Series against the Detroit Tigers, in which he contributed four hits and finished the five-game series with a .200 batting average, as per Baseball Reference.
Josh Naylor's Playoff Losses
Throughout his playoff career, Josh Naylor has endured several challenging series losses with the Guardians, all against the New York Yankees. In the 2020 American League Wild Card Series (ALWC), the Guardians were eliminated after dropping both games. In the 2022 American League Division Series (ALDS), they fell in a hard-fought five-game series, losing three games. Most recently, in the 2024 American League Championship Series (ALCS), they once again met their playoff rivals, losing in five games as the Yankees claimed four decisive victories.
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Josh Naylor's Playoff Records
Josh Naylor has participated in 19 postseason games from 2020 to 2024, including four in the AL Wild Card Series, ten in the AL Division Series, and five in the AL Championship Series. Across these appearances, he has posted a .256 batting average, tallying 20 hits and two home runs.
Josh Naylor's MLB World Series Appearance
Josh Naylor has not yet had the opportunity to participate in a World Series. Unfortunately, his dream of making it to the World Series was crushed as he and the Guardians were defeated by the Yankees in the 2024 American League Championship Series.
FAQ's On Josh Naylor Playoff Appearances
A. Josh Naylor attended St. Joan of Arc in Mississauga and made Canada's junior baseball team at 15, winning silver at the 2012 U-18 World Cup in South Korea.
A. Josh Naylor is the elder brother of Bo Naylor.
A. Josh Naylor has 27 stolen bases as of October 2024.
A. Josh Naylor has 340 RBIs so far.
A. Josh Naylor suffered from a left ankle injury.