Tag: mlb awards

Trio of Red Sox nominated for 2023 All-MLB Team

Three members of this year’s Red Sox have been nominated for 2023 All-MLB Team consideration, Major League Baseball announced on Wednesday night.

Third baseman Rafael Devers, designated hitter Justin Turner, and reliever Chris Martin were all recognized for the seasons they had and will have the chance to to earn either first- or second-team All-MLB honors next month.

Devers was one of 10 third basemen selected to the ballot on Wednesday. Already in the running for his second career Silver Slugger Award, the left-handed hitting 27-year-old was a second-team selection in 2021.

Turner, the recipient of the Red Sox’ 2023 MLBPAA Heart and Hustle Award, was one of eight designated hitters to make the cut. The 38-year-old slugger has yet to make an All-MLB team in his career and is currently a free agent after declining the player option in his contract last week.

Martin, meanwhile, was one of 24 relief pitchers named to the ballot after putting together the best season (1.05 ERA in 55 appearances) of his eight-year big-league career. Like Turner, the 37-year-old righty has never garnered All-MLB consideration before.

First introduced in 2019, All-MLB honors recognize the best player or players at each position across the majors for what they did over the course of the entire regular season. Besides Devers, shortstop Xander Bogaerts (2019 first-team) and outfielder Mookie Betts (2019 second-team) are the only other Red Sox players who have previously made an All-MLB team.

Unsurprisingly, Betts was yet again approved for All-MLB recognition on Wednesday after another standout season with the Dodgers. While Bogaerts came up short following his first season with the Padres, Kyle Schwarber (Phillies), J.D. Martinez (Dodgers), Nathan Eovaldi (Rangers), and Eduardo Rodriguez (Tigers) were among the former Red Sox players who made this year’s ballot.

Fans have until 8 p.m. eastern time on Sunday, November 19 to vote for who they believe should make the fifth annual All-MLB team. Fan voting will account for half of the selection process while the other 50 percent will be made up by a baseball media panel.

Of the 122 players who were nominated on Wednesday, only 32 will be named to the first- or second-team when winners are unveiled during MLB Network’s All-MLB Team Show on December 16.

(Picture of Justin Turner and Rafael Devers: Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Rafael Devers Is Your American League Player of the Week

Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers has been named American League Player of the Week for August 12th through the 18th.

The 22-year-old put together quite the week at the plate against the Cleveland Indians and Baltimore Orioles, slashing .593/.633/1.185 with 10 extra-base hits, three of which being home runs, and 11 RBI over his last six games.

That stretch included a run of eight straight hits that began with a six-hit, four-double performance in Cleveland on Tuesday, marking the first time since at least 1908 that a major leaguer had achieved that feat, and extended into Wednesday.

Against the Orioles on Sunday, Devers became the first big leaguer this season to surpass the century mark in RBI with a two-run homer, his 27th, in the seventh inning of a 13-7 victory.

On the 2019 campaign as a whole, Devers leads American League third baseman in games played (123), runs scored (103), runs driven in (101), slugging percentage (.575), and is tied with Houston’s Alex Bregman atop the fWAR leaderboards (5.5).

2019 has certainly been a breakout year for Devers to say the least. In what is only his second full season in the majors, the breakout star appears to be a lock to finish in the top three for American League Most Valuable Player voting in the fall.

Red Sox’ Rafael Devers Named American League Player of the Month, Michael Chavis Named American League Rookie of the Month for Strong May Performances

While the Red Sox are enjoying an off day in Kansas City, Mo. right about now, Major League Baseball handed out some hardware for the month of May, and a pair of Sox infielders just so happened to be two of the recipients of said awards, with Rafael Devers receiving American League Player of the Month honors and Michael Chavis receiving AL Rookie of the Month honors as well.

Devers, 22, was named Player of the Month for the first time in his career Monday after putting together a May in which he slashed .351/.380/.640 with eight home runs and 24 RBI over 26 games played and 121 plate appearances.

Per FanGraphs, Devers led American League third baseman in hits, runs scored, on base percentage, slugging percentage, and fWAR (1.4) for the month.

Now in his second full season, the Dominican Republic native has really blossomed before our eyes in 2019, becoming one of the best hitters in the junior circuit. If this pace keeps up, Devers should easily find himself a spot on this year’s AL All-Star Game roster.

Chavis meanwhile, was named American League Rookie of the Month in his first full month in the majors. Not too shabby.

Playing in 26 May games, the 23-year-old posted a .248/.331/.457 slash line to go along with seven homers and 19 RBI over 118 plate appearances.

He may have tailed off towards the end by batting .179 from May 21st until the end of the month, but still, there’s no denying that Chavis provided the Red Sox with the spark they needed after a sluggish start to the season.

Among qualified American League rookies, the Georgia native currently ranks third in home runs with 11, fourth in runs scored with 22, fourth in RBI with 28, fourth in Isolated Power (.236), second in on base percentage (.358), fourth in slugging percentage (.500), and third in fWAR (1.0).

Both Chavis and Devers were playing in Double-A Portland less than two years ago. It just goes to show how far young, talented, and skilled players can come in such a short period of time.

Three #RedSox Capture Gold Glove Awards, Including Jackie Bradley Jr.’s First.

On Sunday night, Major League Baseball announced its 2018 Rawlings Gold Glove Award winners for both leagues on ESPN, and the World Series Champion Boston Red Sox came away with three award winners.

Tied with the Atlanta Braves for the most recipients, Ian Kinsler, Jackie Bradley Jr., and Mookie Betts took home the honor for the American League at second base, center field, and right field, respectively.

For Kinsler, this is the second time he has been awarded with a Gold Glove in his 13-year career.

According to FanGraphs, the 36-year-old, who played in 37 games with Boston this season, led all American League second baseman in Ultimate Zone Rating (9.7).

For Jackie Bradley Jr., this is the first time he has been named a Gold Glove winner, and it finally solidifies the 28-year-old as one of, if not the best defensive center fielder in the American League. Here are some highlights from this season to drive that point home:

And finally, to no one’s surprise, Mookie Betts took home his third consecutive Gold Glove Award patrolling right field. He, like Kinsler, led all American League right fielders in UZR by a wide margin (15.3).

Betts will be looking to add to his impressive award collection in the coming days, as Silver Slugger Award winners will be announced on November 8th. JD Martinez should be in that conversation as well.