Guardians’ Naylor: “Baby” gesture not aimed at Yankees

By TOM WITHERS The Associated Press

FILE- Cleveland Guardians' Josh Naylor celebrates as he runs the bases after hitting a home run in the fourth inning of Game 4 of a baseball AL Division Series against the New York Yankees, on Oct. 16, 2022, in Cleveland. Cleveland's fiery first baseman insists he wasn't taunting New York pitcher Gerrit Cole or the Yankees in last season's playoffs with an emotional home run celebration in Game 4 of the American League Division Series. (AP Photo/David Dermer, File)[ASSOCIATED PRESS/David Dermer]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Josh Naylor’s postseason “baby” gesture has grown into something more than he intended. Cleveland’s fiery first baseman insists he wasn’t taunting New York pitcher Gerrit Cole or the Yankees in last season’s playoffs during his home run celebration in Game 4 of the American League Division Series. Naylor playfully swung his arms as if rocking a baby and appeared to scream a vulgarity toward New York’s pitcher. Naylor says now that his gestures were meant to fire up his teammates. Naylor’s antics partly backfired, because the Yankees rallied to win Game 4 and then beat Cleveland in Game 5 to advance.