By Bob Elliott
Canadian Baseball Network
Kyle DeGrace called it first.

It was only 20 months ago he asked the question. 

This was in the winter of 2013 when some people were learning to spell Josh Naylor correctly ... rather than Josh Nailor (incorrect).

The Ontario Blue Jays catching coach asked how we were handling the spelling of the last name and then DeGrace added “Well, get ready because his younger brother is coming ... he’s coming fast and he’s more athletic.”

Not only the Ontario Blue Jays coaches have a great appreciation for Josh Naylor’s younger brother Noah Naylor, but so do the good folks at Perfect Game Scouting Service.

On their latest top 100 prospects for the 2018 draft -- a combined list of high schoolers and collegians -- catcher Noah Naylor was ranked 36th in North America. Noah is one behind Arizona State OF Connor Higgins and one ahead of North Carolina RHP Austin Bergner. 

The top three-ranked players are RHP Kumar Rocker, a Watkinsville, Ga. high schooler, SS Brice Turang, a Corona, Calif. HSer and Florida RHP Brady Singer, who the Jays drafted but failed to sign after selecting him in the second round in 2015.

On the top 100 high schoolers list for 2018, Noah is listed 17th best in all of North America. 

Noah will play for the Ontario Blue Jays and coach Mike Steed while spending time with Greg Hamilton’s Canadian Junior National Team program until draft day.

This spring the Jrs -- high schoolers -- were in Florida playing a Houston Astros team of first and second-year pros.  Noah threw out three runners at second -- two after blocking balls in the dirt and a third attempting a straight steal.

That got us to wondering. Big brother Josh went 12th over all in the 2015 draft to the Miami Marlins and was traded to the San Diego Padres at the July 31 deadline as the Marlins looked for pitching help. Spending time between the Class-A Greensboro Grasshoppers and Class-A Lake Elsinore Storm (Padres) he hit 29 doubles, two triples, 12 homers and drove in 75 runs in 122 games. 

Josh had a .302 on-base mark and slugged .407 for a .710 OPS in his first full season as a pro.

So, where was big brother ranked at this same stage 18 months from his draft day (June, 2015)? Josh was 43rd over-all on the Perfect Game combined list. 

And now here is Noah at 36th.

Josh might be a power hitting first baseman and Noah an athletic catcher, but there is not much difference between Jenice and Chris Naylor’s two oldest sons.

How is that old Christmas diddy sung around the batting cage ... you know the to the tune of Good King Wenceslas:  

“In his brother’s step he trod,

Where the snow lay dented.

Heat was in the home plate sod

Which the saint had printed.

Therefore, solid prospects, to be sure.”