The Cleveland Indians have selected catcher Noah Naylor of Mississauga, Ontario in the first round, 29th overall, in the 2018 Major League Baseball Draft on Monday. At only 18 years of age, Naylor is committed to playing for Texas A&M next season, but there is no doubt a contract offer from Cleveland might just be too tempting.
Naylor attends St. Joan of Arc Catholic Secondary School. While playing for the Ontario Blue Jays, an elite under-18 travel team this season, Naylor batted .421 with two doubles, a home run and six runs batted in. He also played for the Canadian National Junior Team this past spring in Florida.
Naylor was one of three catchers drafted in the first round. The San Francisco Giants selected Joey Bart second overall from Georgia Tech. Meanwhile, the New York Yankees picked Anthony Seigler 23rd overall out of Cartersville High School in Georgia.
Naylor was also the 13th Canadian selected in the first round of the Major League Baseball Draft. He joins pitcher Jameson Taillon of Toronto, Ontario (Pittsburgh Pirates, 2010), pitcher Adam Loewen of Surrey, British Columbia (Baltimore Orioles, 2002), pitcher Cal Quantrill of Port Hope, Ontario (San Diego Padres, 2016), pitcher Jeff Francis of North Delta, British Columbia (Colorado Rockies, 2002), pitcher Phillippe Aumont of Gatineau, Quebec (Seattle Mariners, 2007), first baseman Josh Naylor of Mississauga, Ontario (Miami Marlins, 2015), catcher Brett Lawrie of Langley, British Columbia (Milwaukee Brewers, 2008), pitcher Dave Wainhouse of Scarborough, Ontario (Montreal Expos, 1988), catcher Kellin Deglan of Langley, British Columbia (Texas Rangers, 2002), shortstop Kevin Nicholson of Surrey, British Columbia (San Diego Padres, 1997), pitcher Mike Soroka of Calgary, Alberta (Atlanta Braves, 2015) and first baseman Scott Thorman of Cambridge, Ontario (Atlanta Braves, 2000).
It should be noted that six other Canadians have been supplementary first round draft picks. Noah Naylor is also the younger brother of Josh Naylor, making Josh and Noah the first brothers in Canadian baseball history to both be selected in the first round. In all there were 20 Canadians selected in the 2018 MLB Draft.
