Josh Naylor a key piece in Marlins-Padres blockbuster
Former Ontario Blue Jay 1B Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) selected 12th over-all in June of 2015, was a kep chip the Miami Marlins played to Andrew Cashner and others in a seven-player deal.
By: Andrew Hendriks
Canadian Baseball Network
And so it begins.
The Miami Marlins and San Diego Padres came together on Friday to complete one of the first big multi-player transactions of 2016's trading season In advance of the upcoming Major League Baseball non-waiver trade deadline.
To Miami went a trio of right-handed pitchers in Tayron Gurrero, Andrew Cashner and Colin Rea in exchange for a triad of hurlers in Carter Capps, Luis Castillo, and Jarred Cosart.
Along with the arms, one position player also switched organizations in the deal.
Selected by Miami as the 12th overall pick in 2015, Mississauga’s Josh Naylor is the highest-drafted Canadian position player in the history of the June Amateur Draft.
Checking in as the top ranked prospect in the seven-player swap, Naylor had recently been named the No. 100 prospect in Major League Baseball according to Baseball America’s midseason Top 100 list. Additionally, MLB. Pipeline selected the Canadian import as the Marlins No. 2 prospect behind fellow first-rounder, Braxton Garrett on the site's 2016 Marlins prospect watch in early July.
At 19 years old, many around the industry believe that the power hitting first baseman is still filling out despite his 6’0”, 225 lb. physique.
Naylor has spent parts of the last two seasons in the Marlins MiLB system while compiling an overall slash line of .282/.325/.427 to go along with 41 extra base hits in 114 games as a professional.
In 2016, the product of St. Joan of Arc Secondary School has managed to compliment his power with an impressive strikeout rate of 16.8%. Of course, this comes in a league where the majority of his competition averages out at about 22 years old, which bodes well for the young Canadians composure at the dish.
With the Marlins looking to snap the longest active playoff-less stretch in the National League, the teams brain trust decided to go all in with regards to their attempt to bolster the clubs starting rotation.
In baseball, like any venture, going all in comes at a price. For Miami, that price was a coveted 2015 first round draft pick.
Ironically, Naylor recently made an appearance at San Diego’s Petco Park as part of the 2016 All Star Game festivities. Suiting up for the World team in this years Futures Game, the Canadian import went 2-for-3 with an RBI.