Josh Naylor Belts Two Homers in Guardians’ Thriller—Highlights, Stats & Playoff Impact

Josh Naylor is back in the spotlight—and not just for his bat. Fresh off welcoming his first child, the Seattle Mariners first baseman returned for Game 3 of the AL Division Series and immediately stamped his presence on both sides of the ball. Although he went hit-less that night, his unassisted double play snuffed out a late Detroit Tigers rally and preserved Seattle’s 8-4 victory, reminding fans why the mid-season trade pickup has become a clubhouse cornerstone. Less than 24 hours later, Naylor made national headlines again—this time for the animated hand signals he flashed from second base in Game 4. Television cameras caught the Canadian slugger repeatedly gesturing toward home plate before pitches, tipping location and pitch type to teammates in what many analysts called “the most blatant sign-relaying of the postseason.” Tigers starter Casey Mize took exception, firing a glare after striking out Eugenio Suárez, but Major League Baseball rules permit on-field decoding as long as no electronic devices are involved. Unfazed by the controversy, Naylor ripped three hits and scored twice, though Seattle ultimately fell 9-3 to force a winner-take-all Game 5. Naylor’s on-field theatrics come at a pivotal moment for the Mariners. The 28-year-old slashed .299/.341/.490 with nine homers in 54 regular-season games after arriving from Arizona at the July deadline, helping catapult Seattle to its second straight postseason berth. Yet he’s only months away from free agency, and front-office sources indicate mutual interest in an extension but no firm numbers exchanged. With the franchise chasing its first World Series appearance, the next week could double as both a playoff push and a final audition for a long-term deal. Opposing clubs are watching closely. League insiders already link the Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, and Naylor’s original organization, Cleveland, to a potential offseason bidding war should Seattle fail to lock him up. Left-handed power, infectious energy, and the ability to handle both first base and corner outfield make Naylor a rare commodity — and his new-dad narrative only enhances his marketing appeal. For now, all eyes shift to T-Mobile Park, where George Kirby will take the ball opposite Detroit ace Tarik Skubal in Saturday night’s primetime decider. Expect the Tigers to vary their signs frequently, perhaps even cycling through PitchCom channels to neutralize Naylor’s eagle-eyed gamesmanship. Conversely, Mariners manager Dan Wilson confirmed that Naylor will remain in the three-spot of the lineup despite his 1-for-17 postseason start, citing his knack for “game-changing moments when the lights are brightest.” Should Seattle advance, they’ll face the winner of the Yankees-Astros series in the ALCS, and Naylor’s legend—equal parts slugger, signal savant, and sleepless new father—will only grow. If not, the offseason rumor mill surrounding one of baseball’s most charismatic hitters will shift into overdrive. Either way, Josh Naylor has ensured that the baseball world, and the search engines that follow it, won’t look away any time soon.