Josh Naylor has emerged as an unexpected threat on the base paths after joining the Seattle Mariners in 2025, defying his reputation as a slow runner. While the <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/baseball/mlb/”>MLB regular season nears its final weeks, Naylor’s unusual success in stealing bases Seattle has drawn significant attention. Despite ranking among the slowest players in the league according to Statcast sprint speed metrics, Naylor had recorded 22 stolen bases in 24 attempts by midseason, including a remarkable 11 steals in just 15 games with Seattle. This total leads all MLB players since his trade from the Diamondbacks to the Mariners.

Traditionally known for power hitting rather than speed, Naylor entered the season averaging a .292/.360/.464 batting line accompanied by 15 home runs. His new stolen base pace not only surprises fans and analysts but also significantly contributes to Seattle’s offensive capabilities. Before 2025, Naylor had amassed only 25 stolen bases across parts of six seasons, making his current numbers all the more impressive. Even more striking is his consistency; he already logged three games with multiple steals for the Mariners.

Experts and coaches attribute Naylor’s base-stealing success less to raw speed and more to his baseball intelligence and opportunistic style. Pitchers frequently fail to properly hold him on base, allowing Naylor to capitalize on pitcher inattentions or slow pickoff moves. One clear example highlights pitchers not checking him, giving Naylor easy chances to steal. This savvy approach seems to compensate for his lack of sprint speed, positioning him as a clever, strategic threat on the bases rather than a traditional speedster.

Though Naylor missed a game last week due to a sore shoulder, his stolen base momentum remained unaffected; he swiped a base immediately upon return. His partnership with Cal Raleigh, who has also boasted an 81% success rate in stealing bases this season, has created an unlikely yet effective base-running duo for the Mariners.

While Naylor’s primary value remains his bat, a skill set that promises a lucrative free agency this offseason, his sudden burst in stolen bases helps Seattle win critical games in 2025. This added dimension may not significantly enhance his future market value but provides immediate gains for his team. Naylor’s knack for exploiting defensive lapses has expanded his game in unanticipated ways, proving that base-stealing success hinges on more than speed alone.

Yu Darvish Finds New Edge with Adjusted Pitching Mechanics

Yu Darvish’s 2025 season with the San Diego Padres experienced a turbulent start due to elbow inflammation, pushing his debut back to July 7. The veteran right-hander struggled during his initial outings, surrendering 17 runs over 16 ⅔ innings across four starts, coupled with a nearly equal number of walks (9) and strikeouts (11). However, a notable turnaround emerged in his fifth start when he threw seven shutout innings with seven strikeouts and no walks against the Mets, symbolizing a key shift in his season trajectory.

The improvement followed a significant mechanical adjustment: Darvish lowered his arm slot by approximately 10 degrees, according to Statcast data. This change enhanced the movement and run on his four-seam fastball and sinker, while adding more depth to his breaking pitches. This strategy echoes a successful adjustment recently made by Sean Manaea, who also lowered his arm slot last summer and finished strong as one of the Padres’ top starters.

“I went into the bullpen leading up to (the Mets start) and I felt good about it,”

Darvish shared with reporters, including the San Diego Union-Tribune.

“So I went into the game with a different arm slot than usual and it worked. So all in all, I’m happy about that.”

—Yu Darvish, Pitcher

With Darvish’s return to form, the Padres have won 12 of their last 15 games, trimming their NL West deficit to just one game behind the Dodgers. The acquisition of Nestor Cortes and the return of Michael King have further bolstered the pitching staff. Darvish’s enhanced performance, driven by his adjusted arm slot, plays a crucial role in positioning San Diego as a stronger competitor as the postseason approaches.

Shea Langeliers Elevates Game for Athletics with Power and Contact

Shea Langeliers continues to solidify himself as a major offensive force for the Oakland Athletics in 2025, building on his already impressive power numbers from the previous season. Although some might hesitate to label this year a breakout due to his strong 29 home runs and 111 OPS+ last year, Langeliers has sustained and improved his performance, accumulating 85% of last year’s total bases in just 69% of the plate appearances. His power surge includes a remarkable recent stretch featuring 10 home runs in 16 games, highlighted by a 5-for-6 outing with a double and three long balls.

Langeliers’ strong slugging capability was well regarded even before he became part of the Athletics’ roster, as evidenced by his selection as the ninth overall pick by the Braves in the 2019 Draft and the Athletics’ interest during the Matt Olson trade. Yet what sets Langeliers apart this season is his significant reduction in strikeout rate, an improvement rare among MLB players. Among 276 players with 350 or more plate appearances in consecutive seasons, only Jorge Polanco decreased strikeouts more than Langeliers, whose rate dropped from 27.2% to 18.2%.

Reducing strikeouts has allowed Langeliers to put more balls into play, combining with his above-average hard-hit ability to generate substantial offensive output for a catcher — a position not typically known for robust offensive production. Despite missing most of June due to an oblique strain, Langeliers ranks second among catchers with 24 home runs and holds a robust 136 OPS+, showcasing his overall impact.

“I stopped worrying about my swing so much,”

Langeliers explained to MLB.com.

“Sometimes I get so in my head about breaking down video and what my swing looks like. I blame failures on my actual swing rather than what pitches I’m swinging at or my approach or wondering if I’m locked in in certain situations. Second half, I just went strictly approach-based on what I’m trying to do at the plate and worried less about my swing.”

—Shea Langeliers, Catcher

Langeliers’ contributions extend beyond offense; he is regarded as an above-average defender, making him a valuable all-around player for the Athletics. His emergence adds strength to a young yet promising core that includes Brent Rooker, rookies Nick Kurtz and Jacob Wilson, outfielder Lawrence Butler, and former top prospect Tyler Soderstrom. These offensive building blocks provide Oakland with a solid foundation, though improving pitching remains a priority for the team’s overall success.

Key Implications for Teams Heading into Final Stretch

As the 2025 MLB regular season winds toward its conclusion, several player developments signal potential shifts in postseason dynamics. Josh Naylor’s unexpected base-running proficiency injects a new competitive edge for the Seattle Mariners, whose playoff chances could hinge on timely, aggressive baserunning. Meanwhile, Yu Darvish’s mechanical adjustment offers the Padres a critical boost in pitching depth during a tight NL West race, enhancing their ability to challenge the Dodgers.

On the other side of the league, the Athletics’ revival through Shea Langeliers’ power and contact improvements highlights the transformative impact of player development, even for traditionally defense-first roles like catcher. Each of these individual stories contributes not only to their teams’ immediate prospects but also shapes player valuations and roster construction strategies as free agency and offseason planning approach.

With the postseason and award races intensifying soon, keeping an eye on these rising trends and player performances will be essential for fans, analysts, and teams navigating the critical final weeks of the season.