Coming to grips with who Bo Naylor is
We all remember the hype. Back when Bo Naylor was in Triple-A, Guardians fans were literally begging the front office to call him up. But when they did, it took him a long time to get going. And now that we’ve had a decent look at who Bo Naylor really is at the MLB level, it’s time to tell the truth. I was never high on Bo based on his minor league numbers, and if you were one of the people thinking he was the future catcher for Cleveland, then, frankly, you don’t know Bo.
It’s now clear that Bo is a backup catcher. But let’s rewind first. When everyone was chanting “Free Bo,” the coaching staff kept insisting he wasn’t ready. And they were right.
Just look at the numbers:
At Lake County, Bo hit .243 with 11 home runs in 107 games (399 at-bats).
His first year in Akron? A rough .188 average with 10 home runs over 87 games (313 at-bats). His OBP was just .280.
In 2022, he split the year between Akron and Columbus. In Akron, he improved, hitting .271 with 6 homers in 52 games (170 at-bats). Then in Columbus, he hit .257 with 15 home runs in 66 games (245 at-bats).
His final minor league season in Columbus, 2023, saw him hit .253 with 13 home runs in 60 games (217 at-bats).
So what do we see? One solid stretch in Akron. A decent Columbus run. But a minor league career batting average of .241, and nothing in this stat line screams “future All-Star.”
Now? He’s hitting around .170. Yes, the power is still there in theory, but it’s not enough to carry that kind of average. Defensively, he’s had moments—both good and bad. There have been passed balls this season that simply shouldn’t have gotten by him. And while he’s clearly a good clubhouse guy and a hard worker, that doesn’t make him a starting catcher.
Looking at advanced metrics among MLB catchers with over 200 plate appearances:
Bo ranks 26th in wRC+, showing he’s well below average offensively.
His OPS also ranks 26th among qualifying catchers.
His overall WAR comes in at 22nd, but it’s driven almost entirely by defense as his Offensive WAR is -7.3, which ranks 27th, while his Defensive WAR is 5.9, ranking him 11th.
What does that tell us? Bo Naylor is the textbook definition of a glove-first, backup catcher. He adds some defensive value, sure—but not enough to offset being one of the worst offensive producers at his position.
Meanwhile, we have Austin Hedges—another backup catcher, one whose value lies more in mentorship and vibes than measurable production. That means we don’t have a single legitimate starting catcher on the roster. And that’s a problem if we’re going to make a run.
People keep talking about trading for outfielders, or other position players. But we have options there. Tons of them. The outfield is overloaded with prospects and while no one has amazed, development takes time. Same with the middle infield. Eventually, those positions will sort themselves out. But catcher? There’s no one else coming…unless you want to talk Cooper Ingle who still needs time.
Bo Naylor isn’t the answer behind the plate. He’s a good backup. Maybe even a great one. But we don’t need two backups. We need to make Hedges a coach since no one will take on his contract. And then we need to trade from our position-player surplus and finally get a legitimate, everyday MLB starting catcher.
How many more seasons will we have of prime Jose? We are back in the race. Don’t let a season slip by because we didn’t make the right moves at the deadline.
So what is the single most important thing to do at the trade deadline? Get a starting catcher. That’s the move. That’s the hole. That’s the truth. And if you don’t agree…
You don’t know Bo.