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Josh Naylor 2023 MLB Player Outlook: Solid All-Rounder Set To Contribute Again
2 years agoJosh Naylor had himself a fine 2022 season on his return from a serious leg injury sustained in 2021. In 122 games, Naylor hit .256/.319/.452 with 20 homers, 79 RBI, 47 runs and six stolen bases. The Guardians' signing of Josh Bell does leave some question marks about Naylor's playing time, although they have a vacant DH spot so either of them can fit in the lineup as the DH when the other plays first base. And with Naylor's struggles against left-handed pitching (LHP), it wouldn't be a surprise to see him sit against some southpaws this year. Against LHP, Naylor hit .173/.276/.236 (127 plate appearances) but against RHP, Naylor had a .283/.334/.522 (371 plate appearances) while just one of his 20 homers came against LHP. If Naylor does find himself in a strict platoon, he'll be on the strong side of one and his numbers last year show us that Naylor can still be a serviceable fantasy player in that role. The loss of outfield eligibility in most formats does hurt his value but his ADP of ~220 (24th first baseman) leaves room for Naylor to provide value as a corner infielder/backup first baseman. If you just expect similar numbers to last season, you shouldn't be left disappointed by Naylor in 2023.
