Mariners’ addition of Josh Naylor looks great in 2 surprising ways

It’s only been four games since Josh Naylor joined the Seattle Mariners, but the team’s first big acquisition before the 2025 MLB trade deadline has quickly made an impact on the field. And it’s come in some surprising ways.

Salk: Naylor trade gives Seattle Mariners leverage for more moves

Naylor is 5 for 15 (.333 average) with a walk in those four contests, and in Monday’s 3-1 win over the Athletics, he made the most happen out of any of Seattle’s offensive players.

First, the 28-year-old first baseman slugged his first homer in a Mariners uniform when he led off the second inning with a solo shot to right at Sutter Health Park.

Josh Naylor earns the 🔱 for the first time! #TridentsUp pic.twitter.com/rEGWu7E8bS

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) July 29, 2025

Here’s where the surprising things start to factor in.

After hitting a leadoff single in the fourth inning, Naylor stole second and ended up on third base after an errant throw by A’s first baseman Nick Kurtz into left field – all of which happened after he broke for second when pitcher JP Sears attempted a pickoff throw.

A batter later, Naylor scored his second run of the day on a sacrifice fly by Mitch Garver.

The Mariners added Naylor chiefly for his bat, with a likely secondary reason being his glove at first. But as they’re learning, they also have a new threat on the basepaths.

The 5-foot-10, 235-pound Naylor only ranks in the third percentile among MLB players in sprint speed (per Statcast), but he already has four stolen bases for the M’s, giving him 15 total on the season. His previous career-high was 10 steals in 2023. According to the Mariners, he’s the first player in franchise history with four steals in their first four games with the team.

Another thing the M’s have seen early on from Naylor that perhaps wasn’t expected is production against left-handed pitching. The lefty-swinging Naylor joined Seattle with a career .244 average, .679 OPS and 77 tOPS+ against southpaws, and in 2025 he has a .276 average, .705 OPS and 74 tOPS+ against lefties.

Yet of Naylor’s five hits thus far with the Mariners, four have been off of lefties – including Monday’s homer.

There are always pitfalls when reading into small samples, but you also can’t take away results that have happened. Just four games in, Naylor has clearly helped the Mariners.

Perhaps most important, he hasn’t looked in any way shaken by his midseason jersey swap. You never know how a player will take being traded – just look at the uneven start Randy Arozarena had for Seattle after being dealt at the deadline by Tampa Bay last year.

It hasn’t been a problem at least in a few road games for Naylor, who has hit the ground running with the M’s.

Naylor and the Mariners continue their series in Sacramento against the A’s at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday night. Radio coverage on Seattle Sports begins at 6 with the pregame show.

More on the Seattle Mariners

• Who Mariners are jockeying with for Suárez on trade market
• Mariners trade target Eugenio Suárez has injury scare on HBP
• Dipoto: Mariners to be ‘aggressive’ in bullpen trade market
• If Mariners want to go big on a bullpen trade, there are options
• How Naylor helps the Seattle Mariners in multiple ways

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