PHOENIX — Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo enjoys getting to talk hitting with new first baseman Josh Naylor, learning about what the veteran processes each time he gets up to bat.
During Wednesday’s 9-0 win, Naylor blasted his first home run in Sedona red against Baltimore Orioles right-hander Dean Kremer.
In a nutshell, Naylor attacked a first-pitch splitter in the zone and lined it to deep right field. There’s more to it than that, as Lovullo explained how he saw Naylor set up Kremer.
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The home run came on Naylor’s third at-bat against the pitcher, so he had a good idea of what to expect at that point.
Naylor elaborated on what a hitter processes during a game, something he’s refined over the years:
First at-bat, sacrifice fly to left field: “(Kremer) went splitter front hip, and I didn’t budge. It was a good pitch, but that’s not what I was looking for with (runners on) first and third, less than two outs. He threw a backdoor curveball, that’s a pitch I can get in the air, knowing it starts high, it’s gonna end kind of middle-ish of the zone. It was a ball, but I took my chance just to raise it.”
Second at-bat, single to left: “He went sinker front hip, good pitch. Didn’t want that 0-0. Then he went fastball away and I kind of took it as if he surprised me. He tried to go back again, but I was waiting for it again, just tried to hit it the other way.”
Third at-bat, home run to right: “I knew that the splitter was the only pitch he’s thrown that I didn’t really take a chance at, or even look like I was gonna take a chance at it, so I figured I’d get it again. It was a pretty good pitch for him so far during the day. I figured if it starts inside, it’s gonna end middle. I was just waiting for it that whole first at-bat, tried to stay back as long as I could on it and put a good swing in it.”
Torey Lovullo said Josh Naylor set up his home run during earlier at-bats.
Here's how Naylor explained his approach today at the plate. pic.twitter.com/iz7PZ46jwW
— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) April 10, 2025
Naylor described baseball as very psychological, a game in which he has to think along the lines of the pitchers he’s facing. That comes with experience. Naylor is only 27 years old but is in his seventh major league season, having debuted at 21.
He’s with his fourth organization and has learned from veterans of different stops, such as Eric Hosmer with San Diego and Francisco Lindor with Cleveland, he explained. He’s picked up tidbits from opponents, as well, notably Kansas City catcher Salvador Perez.
“It’s with experience, slowly figure out what he’s gonna throw to you in a certain at-bat,” Naylor said. “Whether runners are on or runners are not on. Out of the stretch, not outta the stretch. I just try to break down the game in that way. Try to teach younger guys that. Showing Alek (Thomas) some things and trying to help him decipher pitches, decipher counts and break down things in that sense.”
First in the desert for Naylz ? pic.twitter.com/WmWumkJ1gI
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) April 9, 2025
He finished Wednesday with three hits, his fifth multi-hit game of the season already.
When the Diamondbacks lost stalwart first baseman Christian Walker in free agency, they quickly pivoted to trading for Naylor to help fill that void in the lineup. A 2024 All-Star, Naylor came into the season looking to improve as a complete hitter for both power and average.
Naylor is off to a strong start with the Diamondbacks at the plate. The first baseman is 16-for-47 (.360), leading the team with 16 hits, five doubles and seven walks.
His 5.5% strikeout rate is the fifth-best among 185 qualified hitters, although he only ranks second on the team since Geraldo Perdomo’s K rate is 3.6%.
Corbin Carroll called Naylor a very “controlled” hitter.
“What you guys see is a really good hitter and engaged player on the field. What I get to see is a really smart, mature baseball player,” Lovullo said. “I love talking hitting with him. I feel like he set up that pitcher when he hit the home run. … When he talked about being one step ahead of the curve, his experience leads him there.
“He’s a highly intelligent player that challenges himself and his teammates. It’s been a joy so far to manage him.”
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