The Cleveland Guardians could have a catcher dilemma at some point in 2026, but Bo Naylor will likely be the starter at the beginning of the season.
Looking back to 2022, fans were begging the Cleveland Guardians to call up Bo Naylor and make him a key contributor in the everyday lineup in some capacity.
It was easy to see why: Bo was showing plenty of potential to be a solid defensive catcher while also displaying potential of having some pop at the plate, too.
That said, three full years into his big-league career, the 25-year-old has left much to be desired, especially in the batter’s box.
Looking at both the 2024 and 2025 seasons, Naylor only has a wRC+ of 79 over those two years. For a team with an above-average offense or better, they can sacrifice some offense for defense, but the Guardians aren’t in that position; they must be seeking upgrades at nearly every position on the diamond.
Jun 8, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians catcher Bo Naylor (23) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the second inning against the Houston Astros at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn ImagesPlus, Cooper Ingle is starting to bang on the door for a potential MLB promotion, possibly in 2026, which could put some pressure on Naylor. The catching prospect recorded an .808 OPS with 26 doubles and 10 home runs across Double-A and Triple-A in 2025.
With all that said, Naylor has more than likely bought himself a little bit more time as Cleveland’s starting catcher, at least to begin next season, and that’s thanks to a strong finish at the plate.
Bo’s overall numbers during the 2025 season aren’t great, but he found his stride in September, which was right when the Guardians needed him to. In the final month of the season, Naylor recorded a slash line of .290/.324/.548 with an OPS of .872, including seven doubles and three home runs.
Not to mention, some of these hits came up clutch for the Guardians.
Plus, this success at the plate came after Naylor made some swing changes and focused on simplifying his mechanics. Clearly, these modifications were meaningful and helped Bo generate more production and runs.
There’s no doubt Naylor has earned the right to begin next season as Cleveland’s everyday catcher. However, if he reverts back to some of his old struggles and Ingle continues to produce at the plate, the Guardians could be forced to make some tough decisions at some point throughout the year.