Naylor first Canadian selected in 2023 MLB Draft

Junior National Team alum Myles Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) was selected 39th overall by the Oakland A’s in the 2023 MLB draft on Sunday. Photo: Baseball Canada

July 9, 2023

Baseball Canada

OTTAWA – For the third time in history a Naylor brother took the honour of being the first Canadian selected in the Major League Baseball Draft after the Oakland Athletics selected third baseman Myles Naylor 39th overall in the Competitive Balance Round A.

The reigning Junior National Team Most Valuable Player joins brothers Josh (Marlins – Round 1 in 2015) and Bo (Guardians – Round 1 in 2018) as players to achieve this honour.

The Mississauga native started with the Junior National Team program in the summer of 2021 as a 16-year-old and played with the squad for two years, participating in the 2022 WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup and the 2022 WBSC Americas U18 World Cup Qualifier.

Naylor’s performance with the Junior National Team in 2022 earned him Junior National Team MVP honours, an award that was previously won by both of his brothers.

At the U18 World Cup in Florida, he hit .471 in eight games with a home run and six RBIs and followed that up hitting .316 with three homers and seven RBIs at the U18 World Cup Qualifier.

Canadians selected in 2023 MLB First-Year Player Draft

1. 3B Myles Naylor (Mississauga, ON) – Oakland Athletics – Competitive Balance Round A (39th overall) Junior National Team/Ontario Blue Jays