Mississauga’s Josh Naylor earns Tip O’Neill Award as Canada’s top MLB player

Seattle Mariners first base Josh Naylor (12) hits an RBI single during first inning MLB American League Championship Series game 7 baseball action against the Toronto Blue Jays, in Toronto, Monday, Oct. 20, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

ST. MARYS — Seattle Mariners first baseman Josh Naylor of Mississauga, Ont., has won the 2025 Tip O’Neill Award, presented annually by the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame to the top Canadian player in Major League Baseball.

Naylor led all Canadians in batting average (.295), RBIs (92) and stolen bases (30) while splitting the season between Arizona and Seattle. He also ranked second among Canadian big leaguers in hits (160), runs (81), home runs (20), doubles (29) and walks (48).

“To be honoured with this award is extremely humbling. I am very thankful and honoured. I will continue to work and play hard to be a great example for the younger generations,” Naylor said in a release.

The 28-year-old earned the honour ahead of Boston Red Sox pitcher Nick Pivetta, Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Cleveland Guardians reliever Cade Smith.

“Josh Naylor was outstanding in both the regular season and post-season in 2025,” said Scott Crawford, the Hall’s director of operations, in a release. “His combination of power and base-stealing ability made him one of the biggest offensive threats in the majors, and his energy and passion for the game of baseball is contagious.”

Naylor was one of the Mariners’ most impactful players down the stretch, hitting .364 with a .982 OPS in September as Seattle made its push toward the American League West title.

He also became just the fourth first baseman in MLB history — and the second Canadian after Larry Walker — to record 20 home runs and 30 stolen bases in the same season.

He continued that momentum in the playoffs, batting .340 with a .966 OPS in 12 games and leading the Mariners with 16 hits. Naylor set several Canadian post-season records, including becoming the first Canadian to record four three-hit games in a single post-season.

He re-signed with Seattle on a US$92.5 million, five-year contract after the season.

Selected 12th overall by the Miami Marlins in the 2015 MLB draft, Naylor is entering his eighth season in the majors.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 4, 2025.