Naylor embraces challenge of filling Walker's shoes

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Josh Naylor knows that he has big shoes to fill in Arizona, but the slugging first baseman is looking forward to the challenge.

Naylor was one of a number of Diamondbacks position players working out at Salt River Fields on Monday, two days ahead of the first pitcher and catcher workouts.

The 27-year-old Naylor was acquired by Arizona in December, one day after former first baseman Christian Walker signed with the Astros. Walker had been the Diamondbacks’ first baseman from 2019-24 and was not only a big part of the lineup, but also a key voice in the clubhouse.

“He's a phenomenal player,” Naylor said of Walker. “I knew he was a phenomenal leader, too. I would love to fill that role and step in those shoes and become the leader that he was in the locker room. I'm not going to change the player. I am just going to be myself and grow the most I can here.”

Naylor, who will be eligible for free agency at the end of the season, certainly has the offensive credentials to replace Walker. Last season, Naylor slashed .243/.320/.456 with 31 homers and 108 RBIs while playing a career-high 152 games.

It resulted in his first All-Star Game selection.

"We felt like he fits into the middle of our lineup pretty significantly, [with] the thump," Arizona GM Mike Hazen said at the time of the trade. "He's a good hitter. He's got really good makeup, [and] we felt like he was a nice fit in our clubhouse with the guys that we have. We think it's going to be a good match."

After hitting .308 with 17 home runs in 2023, Naylor wanted to hit for more power in ‘24, which he knew would likely result in a lower batting average.

To increase his power, Naylor looked for pitches he could elevate, and passed on swinging in some situations where he may have simply taken a ball the opposite way for a single in 2023. He’s looking for a more blended approach in ‘25.

“Probably the best answer is I want to be a complete hitter,” Naylor said. “Have a .300 average, have the 30-plus homers, 100-plus RBIs. That's my goal. I'm just going to continue to work to that. I want to be that complete hitter that puts all those numbers together.”

Walker was also an elite defender, winning Gold Gloves in each of the past three seasons, and while Naylor is not known for his defense, the Diamondbacks think it’s better than advertised.

“I think it's been a great growth,” Naylor said of his development at first base. “I've had a lot of great infield coaches, a lot of people I've learned from. I’ve also played with a lot of great infielders that I've been able to learn from and talk to. So it's been an awesome career, meeting different people with different ideas, different routines, and kind of adding what I can to my game that works. And then what I feel doesn't necessarily work, I don’t add that.”