Josh Naylor headed to first MLB All-Star Game
Ontario Blue Jays and Junior National Team alum Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) has been selected to his first MLB All-Star Game. Photo: Cleveland Guardians
July 8, 2024
By Kevin Glew
Canadian Baseball Network
Cleveland Guardians slugger Josh Naylor has been selected to the American League roster for the MLB All-Star Game that will take place on July 16 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
It is the Mississauga, Ont., native’s first big league All-Star selection.
In 84 games this season, Naylor has belted a career-high 21 home runs (tied for fifth in the American League). He also has 66 RBIs, which ranks third in the AL.
“It’s awesome. I give a lot of credit to my teammates,” Naylor told reporters after the All-Star selection was announced. “I think, as a group, we make each other better every single day. And I think there are a lot of players more deserving — Hunter Gaddis, Cade Smith . . . Tim Herrin has been incredibly great for us. I think a lot of us should be All-Stars and I’m grateful to be one. And I’m looking forward to representing this team and my teammates and coaches and this organization.”
Naylor is the first Cleveland first baseman to be named an All-Star since Carlos Santana in 2019. He is also the second Canadian to represent the franchise in the All-Star Game, joining Jeff Heath (1941, 1943).
Naylor, the reigning Tip O’Neill Award winner as top Canadian player, is in his sixth big league season. After honing his skills with the Ontario Blue Jays and Junior National Team, Naylor was selected 12th overall by the Miami Marlins in the 2015 MLB draft. Following tenures in the Marlins and San Diego Padres organizations, he was traded to the Guardians, along with Cal Quantrill (Port Hope, Ont.), on August 31, 2020.
The Canuck slugger is one of two players born in Canada that has been chosen for the All-Star Game. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Montreal, Que.) was voted the American League’s starting first baseman.
Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman, whose parents are Canadian, was selected as a reserve for the National League squad.
Naylor is one of five Cleveland players that have been chosen to AL All-Star squad. Outfielder Steven Kwan and third baseman Jose Ramirez were voted starters, while closer Emmanuel Clase and DH/utility player David Fry were chosen as reserves.