Mookie Betts, the 25-year-old star outfielder for the Boston Red Sox, is easily coming off his best season yet. Betts along with Slugger J.D. Martinez led Boston the whole season, which resulted in the best record in the MLB, 108-54, and winning the 2018 World Series. The 108 wins was the most wins by any Boston Red Sox team ever, the previous record was 105 wins by the 1912 Red Sox team.
Mookie Betts was drafted by the Red Sox in the 5th round of the 2011 MLB draft as a second basemen. Betts was fresh out of high school, automatically he was going to spend a decent amount of time in the minors. The organization transformed him into an outfielder and so far it has not been a bad idea. Betts was called up on June 29th, 2014. His first two years in the league Betts was developing, improving year to year, combining for 23 home runs, 229 hits, 95 rbi’s and a .291 batting average.
The 2016 season was Betts third season and also his breakout year, becoming an MVP candidate for the first time. Betts recorded 214 hits, 42 doubles, 31 home runs, and had a .318 batting average. Many people believe that he was robbed of the 2016 MVP to Mike Trout because the Red Sox made the playoffs and the Angels did not. Also, if you compared the stats Betts had the better season but the award was still given to Trout.
Despite not winning the MVP award in 2016 Betts still went on to receive a handful of other awards. Betts was given his first Gold Glove, Silver Slugger, Wilson defensive player of the year, and Wilson overall defensive player of the year. In the 2016 campaign Betts really showed the Red Sox organization and the league that he could compete at a high level.
The 2017 season was a decent one for Betts. He didn’t rack up as many awards as he did the previous season but he did make the all star team roster for the American League and was also given the gold glove for the second consecutive season. Betts produced a .264 batting average, 166 hits, 46 doubles, and 24 home runs. He had shown a slight sign of decline but he was still a superstar waiting to emerge.
In 2018, Betts came out on fire and never slowed down. He played a major part in the success of the Red Sox and was truly outstanding. Betts performance will go down as one of the greatest seasons by a Red Sox player, as he exploded for 32 home runs, 30 stolen bases, 47 doubles, 180 hits, and a staggering .346 batting average. Betts became only the second Red Sox player, along with Jacoby Ellsbury, to have a 30-30 season where a player produces 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases. He became the 2nd in Red Sox history to do it and the 40th in MLB history.
Betts led the MLB in average, runs scored, and slugging percentage. He received six baseball awards, one of them being the 2018 AL batting title and the 2018 AL MVP. Betts received 98 percent of votes to be selected MVP, outplaying Mike Trout who is in the business of winning MVP every year. Betts also received his second Silver Slugger award and 3rd consecutive Gold Glove. Winning the World Series really made this season an unforgettable one for Betts.
Will the 26-year-old win another MVP next year?
