It didn’t take long for Josh Naylor to become a beloved member of the Seattle Mariners.
And after his electric finish to the 2025 MLB season and a new five-year contract in the offseason, Naylor is earning even more love as Spring Training gets underway.
This adoration is coming from the Mariners’ team dog, Tucker.
This four-legged fella was promoted this offseason to Manager of Clubhouse Pawsitivity.
This will be his fifth season with the Mariners, and his team bio already says he’s Naylor’s best friend.
Looks like @MarinersPup got a title bump over the offseason to Manager of Clubhouse Pawsitivity, per the team’s media guide for 2026… 🐶🐕⚾️ pic.twitter.com/LJ5kWqXJRg
— Daniel Kramer (@DKramer_) February 12, 2026
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MLB.com’s Daniel Kramer described this fun scene in a recent article:
“Before hitting the field for infield work and batting practice at Spring Training, the Mariners’ slugging first baseman can be seen stretching on the turf adjacent to the weight room. And at his side is the Mariners’ clubhouse canine, Tucker, scarfing one bite after another from the plate in Naylor’s hand. It’s become such a clockwork-like exercise that Tucker knows exactly where to be and when.”
Naylor also shared his perfect thoughts on dogs with Kramer:
“I love dogs. I personally don’t think, as humans, we deserve dogs. They’re just incredible. They’re always happy and loving and can’t wait to see you. Their whole lives are a part of our lives, you know? So if you think about it that way, like, why not spoil them every day you can?”
Naylor joined the Mariners before the end of July trade deadline and didn’t know there was a dog with the team.
“The first day I was at home, I’m like, ‘Oh, someone just brought their dog in today. That’s cool.’ Because you don’t really hear about that,” Naylor told Kramer. “And then he was there and the next thing, it’s like, ‘What is going on right now?’ And I’m like, ‘OK, this guy’s here to stay. Let’s embrace him.’”
Baseball every day?
Like a nonstop treat #SpringTraining pic.twitter.com/rPLHHvwL7Y
— MLB (@MLB) February 16, 2026
Naylor shouted out Tucker in his press conference after his $92.5 million contract signing, too, remarking that Tucker was part of why he was coming back.
“He lightens the room up whenever he comes in that clubhouse,” Naylor said. “Everyone wants to pet him, see him, play with him a little bit. I remember last year, there were times whenever I got to the field early, I would … grab a tennis ball and go on the field with him and just throw that thing as far as I could, and watch him just gallop to the thing.”
First baseman’s best friend, indeed.
