Baseball developments: Josh Naylor exhibits aggressive play, Yu Darvish changes strategies, and another A's player shines brightly
Article Title: Yu Darvish and Josh Naylor Shine in MLB's Latest Action
In the world of Major League Baseball, two standout performances have caught the attention of fans and analysts alike. For the pitching realm, veteran right-hander Yu Darvish of an unspecified team has been making waves with his improved performance, while first baseman Josh Naylor, now with the Seattle Mariners, has been turning heads with his increased stolen base totals.
Yu Darvish's Arm Slot Adjustment
Darvish, known for his commanding presence on the mound, has credited a new arm slot for his recent success. By lowering his arm slot by approximately 10 degrees, he has seen improvements in the movement of his pitches. This adjustment has resulted in more run on his four-seamer and sinker, and more depth on his breaking balls, leading to improved performance in his last three starts [2].
Josh Naylor's Steal Surge
On the offensive side, Naylor has been making a name for himself with his increased stolen base totals. Despite ranking in the bottom 3% of the league in Statcast's sprint speed, Naylor has managed to steal 22 bases in 24 attempts this season, with 11 steals in just 15 games with Seattle [4].
This surge in stolen bases is not solely due to Naylor's speed, but rather a combination of savvy base running, improved timing, high-risk-reward attempts with strong success, and situational factors such as team strategy and opposing defenses being caught off guard [1][3]. Reports suggest that Naylor is benefiting from opposing teams "letting him off the leash," meaning fewer attempts to throw him out or less aggressive catcher/pitcher defense against him [1].
Naylor's first base coaches appear to be encouraging his steals, indicating confidence in his instincts and timing despite his low sprint speed metrics [3]. In summary, Naylor's stolen base success in 2025 is less about outright speed and more about smart base running, excellent base-running instincts, and high success rates [1][3].
Other Notable MLB Developments
Elsewhere in the league, the San Diego Padres have been on a roll, winning 12 of their last 15 games as of Tuesday [5]. Their recent acquisitions of Michael King and Nestor Cortes have bolstered their roster, positioning them better to challenge the Dodgers in the NL West [8]. The Padres have closed the gap to just one game behind the Dodgers [6].
Meanwhile, the Athletics have a sneaky impressive position player core, including Shea Langeliers, Nick Kurtz, Jacob Wilson, Lawrence Butler, and Tyler Soderstrom [9]. Langeliers, the Athletics' catcher, has been impressive with his big power at his position, ranking second among all catchers with 24 homers and fourth with a 136 OPS+ [1].
In the NL West, the Dodgers will have their work cut out for them as they face increased competition from the Padres and other teams. Meanwhile, the MLB continues to deliver exciting performances and storylines, with players like Darvish and Naylor leading the charge.
[1] - [Source 1] [2] - [Source 2] [3] - [Source 3] [4] - [Source 4] [5] - [Source 5] [6] - [Source 6] [8] - [Source 8] [9] - [Source 9]
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