Bold start: Kindness doesn’t cost a thing, but it can change how we see the game. Josh Naylor’s small moment with a trailblazing umpire shows why that matters.
PEORIA, Ariz. — While his on-field intensity is undeniable, Josh Naylor also carries a surprisingly gentle side, grounded in respect and kindness.
That gentleness shone brightest when the Mariners first baseman stepped up to the plate for Tuesday afternoon’s Cactus League game against the White Sox and offered a simple, warm greeting.
“I like to show respect and kindness to everyone, regardless of gender, race, or background,” Naylor explained. “I just try to be kind. It felt like, ‘Welcome back to baseball.’ After everyone has been away for so long, I’m genuinely excited to play, so I wanted to say, ‘Welcome back to baseball.’”
A modest gesture, but a memorable one: Naylor introduced himself and exchanged a handshake with home-plate umpire Jen Pawol—a historic figure in officiating. Pawol made history last year as the first woman to umpire a regular-season MLB game.
It’s common for players to greet umpires cheerfully, and Naylor also connected with the rest of the umpiring crew on Tuesday. Yet his moment with Pawol stood out as a vivid embodiment of inclusivity, respect, and admiration.
“I was raised to be kind,” Naylor said. “Kindness is free. It’s not hard to be a good person.”
Pawol’s groundbreaking ascent began last year, when she worked first and third bases during a Braves–Marlins doubleheader on August 9, then behind the plate the following day. Her climb continued through 2023, when she became the first female umpire at Triple-A in 34 years. That September, she served as the home plate umpire for the Triple-A Championship. In 2024, she became the first woman umpire in a Spring Training game since Ria Cortesio in 2007, and she served as a Triple-A crew chief in 2024, with additional Spring Training assignments in 2025. In total, Pawol logged more than 1,200 Minor League games across all levels over a decade before reaching Major League Baseball last season.
“Naylor’s gesture is a wonderful milestone for the game,” Pawol said, echoing the sentiment that kindness and representation matter just as much as performance on the field.
The moment was brief—Naylor quickly returned to the game—but its impact lingered, illustrating how a simple act of courtesy can resonate beyond a single at-bat and contribute to a more inclusive culture in baseball.
Would you like to see more stories like this that highlight kindness and diversity in sports, or do you prefer a deeper dive into Pawol’s career milestones and the broader implications for officiating? And do you think such gestures should be encouraged more publicly during games? Share your thoughts in the comments.
