The Cleveland Guardians are currently lacking offensive punch in their lineup.
They were dead last in home runs last year and could have definitely used a top hitter heading into the 2024 campaign.
But the outlook is not as bleak as it might seem sometimes.
The team does have Jose Ramirez and Josh Naylor, and some prospects who could be sources of power in the not-so-distant future: Chase DeLauter, Johnathan Rodriguez, Estevan Florial, and more.
There is, of course, another Naylor: Bo.
Bo, Josh’s little brother, is no longer a prospect or a “potential” source of power: he is very much a reality, and is expected to get the majority of starts at catcher.
The city of Cleveland hasn’t been this excited about a catcher since Carlos Santana played the position in the early 2010s.
Naylor has some work to do defensively, and that’s in part why the organization brought back experienced backstop Austin Hedges.
Offensively?
Naylor is already a rock-solid player and has potential for more.
The team recently showed fans what they wanted to see: spring training Bo Naylor content.
Heard some folks clamoring for Bo content. 😎#GuardsSpring pic.twitter.com/b6RmECNtsb
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) February 15, 2024
They posted a few pictures of the skilled youngster using his catching equipment, doing agility drills, and of course, doing what he does best: hitting.
In 67 games this past season, Naylor hit .237/.339/.470 with a .809 OPS, 11 home runs, and 32 RBI.
For a catcher, those numbers are more than good: they are amazing.
He had hit 13 home runs in Triple-A, so Naylor had a solid 24 for the year.
He could be a dark-horse candidate to hit 30 long balls for Cleveland this year, and that would be a godsend.
NEXT: Guardians Set Official Start Time For Home Opener
