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Josh Naylor Matches Century-Old First-Base Stolen-Base Feat

The milestone pairs high-volume steals with one of MLB’s lowest sprint speeds, raising questions about how teams evaluate baserunning skill.

Overview

  • Naylor stole his 30th base on Sept. 26, becoming the first primary first baseman to record back-to-back 30-plus steal seasons since George Sisler did it from 1920–22.
  • Statcast lists Naylor in the 1st percentile for sprint speed at about 24.3 feet per second while he has gone 30-for-39 on steal attempts this season, a success rate just above the roughly 75% break-even benchmark.
  • Seattle acquired Naylor from Arizona in July 2025 and signed him to a five-year, $92.5 million contract in the offseason, a deal that set high expectations as his overall offensive numbers fell in 2026.
  • In the same game Naylor recorded his 30th steal, rookie starter Kade Anderson left after a 103.8 mph comebacker and was diagnosed with a left forearm bruise but had negative X-rays.
  • The achievement is historically rare for a first baseman and invites fresh attention to timing and technique on the bases because Naylor’s high steal totals contrast sharply with negative baserunning metrics and declining plate production.