Josh Naylor and Austin Hedges trade viral insults in Cleveland
Josh Naylor and Austin Hedges turned a routine hit-by-pitch call into a viral shouting match during Sunday's Guardians-Mariners game. The former Cleveland teammates traded personal insults in the sixth inning of Cleveland's 6-5 comeback win at Progressive Field — and lip-read clips suggest the feud runs far deeper than one elbow on a curveball.
Key Takeaways
- Guardians catcher Austin Hedges allegedly told Mariners first baseman Josh Naylor, "Nobody likes you," after a disputed HBP in the sixth inning.
- Naylor reportedly fired back with profanity and gestures; Cleveland rallied with five runs in the eighth to win 6-5.
- The pair shared four full seasons on the Padres and Guardians before Naylor was traded away in December 2024.
- Guardians manager Stephen Vogt downplayed it as ex-teammates talking from 90 feet away, but The Athletic tied it to years of clubhouse friction.
Sunday's argument did not start in a vacuum. It began when Guardians reliever Tim Herrin hit Naylor with a 77.7 mph curveball. Cleveland's dugout argued Naylor had not tried to avoid the pitch — a rule that is rarely enforced in practice, as Yahoo Sports noted.
Hedges pushed back on the call from behind the plate. Per Jomboy Media lip-readers cited by multiple outlets, Naylor yelled an expletive-laced insult and later made an obscene hand gesture. Hedges appeared to respond: "Nobody likes you. Literally, nobody likes you. Your own teammates don't like you." Lip-reading is imperfect — some viewers thought he said "No one asked you" instead.
Naylor was later seen telling Hedges to "do something about it" as the inning ended. Hedges went 1-for-2 before exiting for Patrick Bailey; Naylor finished 2-for-4 with an RBI double. The Mariners held a 4-1 lead at that point, only to blow it in a five-run eighth.
Why Did Josh Naylor and Austin Hedges Clash?
On the surface, it was a hit-by-pitch dispute. Herrin struck Naylor's arm, umpires sent him to first, and Hedges objected. Naylor chirped back, and the exchange escalated from baseball disagreement to personal attack within seconds.
Guardians manager Stephen Vogt heard the noise from the dugout. "I figured it was two former teammates having a conversation from 90 feet away," he said after what he called "as big of a win as we've had all year." Hedges was not available to reporters on Monday.
What Is the History Between Naylor and Hedges?
Naylor and Hedges were Padres prospects traded to Cleveland together in 2020 and spent overlapping years with the Guardians. They played four full seasons together across San Diego and Cleveland, most recently in 2024 before the Guardians shipped Naylor to Arizona and he eventually landed in Seattle.
The Athletic reported that Naylor's final Cleveland season had already turned icy. Front-office moves — including trading his close friend Aaron Civale for first-base prospect Kyle Manzardo, Naylor's eventual replacement — strained the relationship. By September 2024, Naylor still hugged Manzardo at home plate after a clutch homer, a moment that moved Vogt to tears even as a trade felt inevitable.
Hedges, meanwhile, returned to Cleveland on a one-year deal and serves as a veteran clubhouse leader under Vogt. When the Guardians later acquired catcher Patrick Bailey, Hedges praised Bailey publicly while Bo Naylor — Josh's younger brother — was demoted, adding another layer of awkwardness around the Naylor name in Cleveland.
Does This Feud Matter Beyond One Game?
Yes — for standings and for narrative. The win kept the 44-40 Guardians level with the Chicago White Sox atop the AL Central. Seattle fell to 42-43, a half-game behind Texas in the AL West. For fans, the clip became instant bizarre sports theater — the kind of raw dugout drama that travels faster than any box score.
Naylor's reputation as an agitator has followed him to Seattle. Tigers infielder Colt Keith recently said you "like him if you're his teammate, and you hate him if you're on the other team." The Athletic noted Hedges might disagree — suggesting Sunday's barb was not random trash talk but accumulated history finally spilling onto the field.