When we define what MLBbro is, we are usually referring to the Black players who make up 7.2 percent of Major League Baseball. Within this exclusive fraternity lies an even rarer commodity: two Black brothers in the same clubhouse.
That’s what the Cleveland Guardian have with Josh and Noah “Bo” Taylor. The two bros amongst MLBros hail from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. They follow in the footsteps of Canadian baseball greats such as Baseball Hall of Fame Inductees Ferguson Jenkins and Larry Walker and former MVPs Joey Votto and Freddie Freeman.
Brothers Of The Same Mind | Josh And Bo Naylor Are Trying To Make It Happen In Cleveland
First baseman Josh registered a career season in 2022 when he put up .256/.319/.452 with 20 home runs and 79 RBI. Those were all career high numbers as he bounced back from an ankle injury that sidelined him for most of the 2021 season. His most notable moment of his career was Game 4 of the ALDS when he bombed a homer off Yankees’ ace Gerritt Cole, becoming a viral sensation with his “rock the baby” home run celebration. Josh is currently picking up where he left off from last year, batting .286/.348/.571 with 2 home runs and 5 RBI.
The Guardians’ plans for Bo, however, will be further in the future. At catcher, Bo was a late-first round pick for Cleveland in 2018. Bo put up impressive numbers splitting time between Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus. He hit .263 with an .888 OPS belting 21 home runs and 68 RBIs in 118 games. He has been a minor-league mainstay so far in his career except for late 2022 where Bo was called up to Cleveland as an emergency catcher and designated hitter.
“We’re trying to set up a roster the best we think we can,” said manager Terry Francona on Bo’s 2022 call up. “This was something that we felt we wanted to get to and try to get to it before the season was over. So give the kid a little bit of a chance to play a game or two.”
Their first major league game together saw Josh bat fourth in the batting lineup with Bo batting 5th. Bo did not register a hit in his debut.
“I try to get him to learn from my past experiences, whether they’re good or bad, so he doesn’t fall into those issues or traps or whatever the case is,” Josh said to MLB.com. “I am like his learning experience, in a way.”
Josh and Bo Naylor are ages 25 and 23. Their youth is also a key part of Cleveland’s modus operandi in which the organization plays young talent fairly more than any other team. In fact, the average age for last year’s roster was 26.3 years old. Their teammates in the youth movement include pitcher Triston “Dr. Sticks” McKenzie, second baseman Andrés Giménez, and Steven Kwam. None of those players are over 25.
“We’re so young,” said the 63 year-old Francona . “But that’s not an excuse. When you have youth, you have some enthusiasm that comes with it.
“We make mistakes, but we don’t play dumb baseball. I get a kick out of that.”
Even after finding moderate success with the young lineup, the “Baby G’s” of Cleveland needed to add a veteran bat to solidify the middle of the lineup with Josh Naylor.
Enter new addition first baseman Josh Bell.
Bell is expected to not only help produce more runs in the lineup, but to also provide depth at first base and DH. This added depth will see Naylor have a few spells back in the outfield this season.
“I expected to go back out there this year, and I’m excited for it,” Naylor said to Sports Illustrated. “I love playing the outfield. It’s honestly a really cool position. And having the honor to play besides [Myles] Straw and [Steven Kwan] and learn from those guys is something I want to do every day.”
Even though Bo isn’t entirely figured into the Guardians present plans, the young catcher is on the 40-man roster and is a top prospect in the organization. His brother Josh is on the verge of a breakout season, putting up solid numbers to help Cleveland to 5-2 start on the season. While his brother Bo isn’t an everyday big leaguer yet, Josh continues to be his brother’s keeper in the midst of holding the Naylor family down in Cleveland.
