New Seattle slugger Josh Naylor plugged into cleanup spot behind Raleigh for debut against Angels

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Pressure is a privilege in the eyes of new Seattle Mariners slugger Josh Naylor.

Naylor is looking forward to the opportunity to bat cleanup in his first game with Seattle against the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night.

“I love the word pressure,” said Naylor, a first baseman who was acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks for two pitching prospects on Thursday. “I think it’s a gift, a position God puts you in because he knows you can handle it.”

The left-handed hitting Naylor likely won't win a Gold Glove at first base. But, he has always been able to handle the bat.

The 28-year-old Naylor is a career .267 hitter with a .773 OPS in seven big-league seasons. He joins the Mariners after hitting .292 with an .807 OPS, 11 homers, 19 doubles, 59 RBIs, 49 strikeouts and 37 walks in 93 games with the D-Backs this season.

Naylor, who played in 19 playoff games with the Cleveland Guardians, is also a career .294 hitter with an .846 OPS with runners in scoring position. He entered Friday with a .298 average (28 for 94) and .810 OPS in those situations this season.

That track record earned Naylor a prime position in Seattle’s lineup behind No. 3 hitter Cal Raleigh, who entered Friday as the MLB leader with 39 homers and tied for second 84 RBIs. Seattle's No. 5 hitter is Randy Arozarena, who entered Friday with 19 homers and 51 RBIs.

“I think he’s a good fit (in the cleanup spot) because of the way he swings the bat,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. “He’s a guy who is going to have a great approach in those RBI situations.

“He’s been through a lot.
I’ve seen some (of his) postseasons, so he’s a guy who brings a lot of valuable experience to the group, and that will do nothing but enhance what has already been a very special season with this group.”

Naylor should be a considerable offensive upgrade at first base over Donovan Solano, who is hitting .243 with a .626 OPS, three homers and 20 RBIs in 64 games, and Luke Raley, who is batting .220 with a .691 OPS, four homers and 18 RBIs in 49 games.

Utility man Miles Mastrobuoni was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma to clear a 26-man roster spot for Naylor.

“I’ve heard nothing but great things about this organization, about this team, about how hard they play,” Naylor said of the American League wild-card-contending Mariners, who entered Friday with a 55-48 record. “They’re a tough group. Obviously, the pitching speaks for itself, they’re phenomenal on that end. The offense is great, too.

“Raleigh’s having such an incredible year. It’s super cool to watch from the outside. Julio (Rodriguez) is such a leader, a phenomenal player and athlete — he’s a game changer. I’m really excited to be here and be a part of it and to see how I can contribute.”

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Arizona Diamondbacks' Eugenio Suárez (28) celebrates his two-run home run against the St. Louis Cardinals with Diamondbacks' Josh Naylor, center, as St. Louis Cardinals catcher Pedro Pagés, right, pauses at home plate during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, July 19, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Josh Naylor, left, starts his swing on a catcher interference with St. Louis Cardinals catcher Pedro Pagés during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, July 19, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Josh Naylor celebrates in the dugout with his teammates after scoring during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, July 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

Seattle Mariners first baseman Josh Naylor stands on the field during the second inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Friday, July 25, 2025, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Seattle Mariners first baseman Josh Naylor stands in the dugout during the second inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Friday, July 25, 2025, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Eugenio Suárez (28) celebrates his two-run home run against the St. Louis Cardinals with Diamondbacks' Josh Naylor, center, as St. Louis Cardinals catcher Pedro Pagés, right, pauses at home plate during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, July 19, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Josh Naylor, left, starts his swing on a catcher interference with St. Louis Cardinals catcher Pedro Pagés during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, July 19, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Josh Naylor celebrates in the dugout with his teammates after scoring during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, July 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

Seattle Mariners' Josh Naylor (12) hits a pitch during the third inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Friday, July 25, 2025, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Seattle Mariners first baseman Josh Naylor stands on the field during the second inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Friday, July 25, 2025, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Seattle Mariners first baseman Josh Naylor fields a ball during the second inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Friday, July 25, 2025, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Seattle Mariners first baseman Josh Naylor stands on the field during the second inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Friday, July 25, 2025, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Seattle Mariners first baseman Josh Naylor stands in the dugout during the second inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Friday, July 25, 2025, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Eugenio Suárez (28) celebrates his two-run home run against the St. Louis Cardinals with Diamondbacks' Josh Naylor, center, as St. Louis Cardinals catcher Pedro Pagés, right, pauses at home plate during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, July 19, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Josh Naylor, left, starts his swing on a catcher interference with St. Louis Cardinals catcher Pedro Pagés during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, July 19, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Josh Naylor celebrates in the dugout with his teammates after scoring during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, July 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A South Korean court sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to five years in prison Friday in the first verdict from eight criminal trials over the martial law debacle that forced him out of office and other allegations.

Yoon was impeached, arrested and dismissed as president after his short-lived imposition of martial law in December 2024 triggered huge public protests calling for his ouster.

The most significant criminal charge against him alleges that his martial law enforcement amounted to a rebellion, and the independent counsel has requested the death sentence in the case that is to be decided in a ruling next month.

In Friday's case, the Seoul Central District Court sentenced Yoon for defying attempts to detain him, fabricating the martial law proclamation and sidestepping a legally mandated full Cabinet meeting.

Yoon has maintained he didn’t intend to place the country under military rule for an extended period, saying his decree was only meant to inform the people about the danger of the liberal-controlled parliament obstructing his agenda. But investigators have viewed Yoon’s decree as an attempt to bolster and prolong his rule, charging him with rebellion, abuse of power and other criminal offenses.

Judge Baek Dae-hyun said in the televised ruling that imposing “a grave punishment” was necessary because Yoon hasn’t shown remorse and has only repeated “hard-to-comprehend excuses.” The judge also restoring legal systems damaged by Yoon’s action was necessary.

Yoon, who can appeal the ruling, hasn’t immediately publicly responded to the ruling. But when the independent counsel demanded a 10-year prison term in the case, Yoon’s defense team accused them of being politically driven and lacking legal grounds to demand such “an excessive” sentence.

Prison sentences in the multiple, smaller trials Yoon faces would matter if he is spared the death penalty or life imprisonment at the rebellion trial.

Park SungBae, a lawyer who specializes in criminal law, said there is little chance the court would decide Yoon should face the death penalty in the rebellion case. He said the court will likely issue a life sentence or a sentence of 30 years or more in prison.

South Korea has maintained a de facto moratorium on executions since 1997 and courts rarely hand down death sentences. Park said the court would take into account that Yoon’s decree didn’t cause casualties and didn’t last long, although Yoon hasn’t shown genuine remorse for his action.

A supporter of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol shouts slogans outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Supporters of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol hold signs and flags outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

A supporter of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol waits for a bus carrying former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Supporters of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol hold signs as police officers stand guard outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Supporters of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol hold signs and flags outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Supporters of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol hold signs outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

A picture of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is placed on a board as supporters gather outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)