Naylors reunite in Indians organization
The Naylor brothers had sometimes talked about it growing up, the possibility of playing on the same majorleague team. It still hasn't happened, but they took another step toward it being realized, as they're now at least in the same organization.
Last Monday, the Indians acquired outfielder Josh Naylor as part of a sixplayer package for starter Mike Clevinger, outfielder Greg Allen and a player to be named later. Naylor's younger brother, Bo, a catcher, was selected by the Indians with the 29th overall pick in the 2018 amateur draft.
Bo Naylor, who still isn't old enough to drink, remains a few years of development away from knocking on the door to the big leagues. Josh, 23, is sliding into an everyday role in left field for the outfield-light Indians. It might take a while, but Josh Naylor is under club control through 2025 and now a key, long-term part of the lineup. One step closer to brothers wearing the same uniform on the same team at the major-league level.
"He loves (the news of the trade) top to bottom. He was the first call I got after the trade happened," Josh Naylor said. "It was like, 'Let's just both try to make it' type of a thing, and if it happens, it happens. But it happened early. Hopefully he's here soon and in this lineup soon with me and it should be an exciting time."
The Naylor family, of course, can now go all-in as Indians fans.
"They all loved it. They were excited and happy and over the moon," Josh Naylor said. "It's an exciting time. Just kinda got to roll with it and enjoy it and continue to pray and just be the best player I can.
Hopefully the stars align and me and him are in the same lineup one day and get to hang out every day and hopefully live together and be around each other again, around each other constantly.”
It was a family reunion of sorts for Josh Naylor already, at least in the sense of the baseball family.
The Indians and Padres have been consistent trade partners the past several years.