If someone had to choose a Cleveland Guardians player as a potential American League MVP before the season started, very few would have picked anyone other than third baseman Jose Ramirez. However, by mid-May, another player is emerging as a potential MVP candidate: Josh Naylor.
Naylor was recently named one of the top 10 MLB MVP candidates in the AL and NL by Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter, ranking eighth on the list. Reuter highlighted Naylor’s run-producing abilities (11 home runs, 30 RBIs) and his impressive OPS (.919), noting his contributions to Cleveland’s early season success.
“Still only 26, Naylor has developed into a core piece for the Guardians. He’s one of the biggest reasons why they’ve overperformed preseason offensive expectations to this point.”
– Joel Reuter on Josh Naylor
Naylor’s performance has significantly boosted the Guardians, who currently lead the highly competitive AL Central with a 26-16 record. His contributions have been crucial, especially considering other lineup struggles, Jose Ramirez not playing at his peak, and Steven Kwan’s absence.
Naylor isn’t the only AL Central player on Reuter’s list. Other top 10 mentions include Minnesota’s Ryan Jeffers (9), Detroit’s Tarik Skubal (7), and Kansas City’s Salvador Perez (6) and Bobby Witt Jr. (2). While Naylor and Witt Jr. are the strongest MVP contenders from the group, it’s a discussion better suited for after the All-Star break.
