Video: First Major League Baseball hit for Mississauga native as his brother cheers him on

Two of the Naylor brothers from Mississauga have had much to celebrate in the last 20 hours or so in Cleveland, where they play Major League Baseball for the Guardians.

Bo Naylor, a 23-year-old catcher just beginning his big league career, banged out his first MLB hit last night (June 21), a key eighth-inning single to help his club come from behind to down the visiting Oakland A’s 7-6 (see video below).

Cheering him on in the home club’s dugout was perhaps his biggest fan, older brother and young veteran Josh Naylor, the Guardians’ hulking first baseman who turned 26 today (June 22) and who’s in the midst of a hot streak that has seen him up his average to .290 and place himself among the American League RBI leaders with 55 (tied for fourth).

Quite the whirlwind of feel-good activity for the brothers, who both attended St. Joan of Arc Secondary School in Mississauga and were first-round picks in the MLB First-Year Player Draft (Josh in 2015, Bo in 2018).

And they likely aren’t the only family members to be marking the two memorable occasions.

You never forget your first.

Big bro approves. 🥲#ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/VRoC9bekVV

— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) June 22, 2023

Celebrating from somewhat afar is the rest of the Naylor clan, including the youngest of the three brothers, Myles, 18, also a star baseball player who’s expected to be drafted in the early rounds of this summer’s First-Year Player Draft.

If the arms pumping in the air and sheer joy on the face of Josh Naylor in the dugout was any indication, he’d just received the best possible birthday gift when Bo lined the pitch into centre field.

Meanwhile, Bo stood calmly on first base, accepting quiet congratulations from coach Sandy Alomar Jr.

By all appearances, it could have been just another base hit for the younger Naylor, who didn’t appear, at least outwardly, overly excited by his accomplishment.

Cleveland first baseman Josh Naylor celebrates younger brother Bo’s first MLB hit on Wednesday night. (Photo: Cleveland Guardians Twitter)

It was also a little bit of a monkey off Bo’s back, as he had gone 0-for-8 in his late-season callup to the Majors last year and 0-for-9 since getting the call last week for his 2023 debut.

Batting in the ninth spot Wednesday night, the athletic 6-foot, 205-pound catcher, among the top prospects at that position, and overall, in all of baseball, went 1-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored.

His big brother, meanwhile, went 4-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs to stay red hot. It was Josh’s second four-hit game in three days this week.

Bo Naylor, the only catcher in the minor leagues last year to smack 20 home runs and steal 20 bases, played for Canada at this year’s World Baseball Classic.

Bo Naylor stands at first base Wednesday night in Cleveland after collecting his first hit in the Majors. (Photo: Cleveland Guardians Twitter)