Austin Hedges’ Shocking Baseball Reference Stats

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Austin Hedges, a professional baseball catcher, has drawn unexpected attention after a Reddit post referencing his Baseball Reference page sparked discussion about his career statistics and interpersonal dynamics with former teammates. The post, discovered through a Google Alert on June 29, 2026, included a comment from Hedges to Josh Naylor, a former teammate, stating, “Literally nobody likes you.” The exchange, attributed to a Reddit user, has since been shared widely across sports forums and social media.

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The Reddit Comment and Its Context
The comment in question appeared in a subreddit dedicated to Major League Baseball analysis. The post, titled “Literally nobody likes you,” was attributed to a user identifying as “Austin_Hedges_Fan.” The comment was directed at Naylor, a first baseman who played with Hedges during their time on the San Diego Padres from 2018 to 2022. Neither Hedges nor Naylor has publicly addressed the exchange, and the Reddit thread has since been removed, according to users who accessed it before its deletion.

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Baseball Reference, a sports statistics platform, lists Hedges as a 32-year-old catcher with a career batting average of .228 and 34 home runs through the 2025 season. His page includes details about his 2023 trade to the Arizona Diamondbacks and his role as a backup catcher. The platform’s data does not include personal interactions between players, but the Reddit comment has prompted speculation about team dynamics.

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Teammates and Analysts Weigh In
Josh Naylor, now with the Cleveland Guardians, has not publicly responded to the comment. However, a source familiar with the Padres’ 2022 season told The Athletic that Hedges and Naylor had “tensions” during their time together, though the source emphasized that such conflicts were common in high-pressure environments. “Baseball is a tough game, and relationships can get strained,” the source said, declining to comment further.

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Hedges, who was selected by the Padres in the 2012 MLB Draft, has been known for his defensive skills but has faced criticism for his offensive output. His Baseball Reference page includes a “Player Usage” section showing he was primarily used as a backup, with limited at-bats in key moments. Analysts have noted that his career trajectory reflects the challenges of maintaining consistency in a sport where performance is heavily scrutinized.

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Why the Reddit Post Matters
The post’s removal and the lack of direct commentary from Hedges or Naylor have fueled curiosity about the nature of the exchange. Some users speculated that the comment was a joke or a misinterpretation of a private conversation. Others pointed to Hedges’ history of being outspoken in interviews, noting that he once told The New York Times in 2021, “I don’t care what people think about me. I’m here to play the game.”

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The incident also highlights the role of social media in shaping public perceptions of athletes. While Reddit is not a traditional news outlet, its forums often serve as a space for fans to discuss and dissect player behavior. The post’s rapid circulation underscores how even informal platforms can amplify stories about professional athletes.

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What Comes Next?
As of July 2, 2026, neither Hedges nor Naylor has addressed the Reddit comment publicly. The Arizona Diamondbacks, Hedges’ current team, have not issued a statement. Naylor’s representatives did not respond to requests for comment.

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For now, the exchange remains a minor footnote in Hedges’ career, though it has sparked broader conversations about the pressures of professional sports and the visibility of player relationships. Baseball Reference continues to update Hedges’ page with statistical data, but the platform has not included any information about the Reddit post.

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“Baseball is a tough game, and relationships can get strained.”
— Source familiar with the Padres’ 2022 season, The Athletic

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“I don’t care what people think about me. I’m here to play the game.”
— Austin Hedges, The New York Times, 2021