Boston Red Sox Report Cards: Mookie Betts
By Sean Penney
The BoSox Injection staff reflects on the 2016 season by grading each member of the Boston Red Sox based on expectations for them entering the season.
One word can be used to sum up this season for Boston Red Sox right fielder Mookie Betts: MVP.
Fine, so technically that’s an acronym for three words, but it still fits. Betts was not only the most valuable player on this Red Sox team this season, he’s built a solid case for taking home some hardware for being the Most Valuable Player in the American League.
Betts followed up last year’s breakout campaign by taking another leap to the elite level, setting career-highs nearly across the board en route to making his first All-Star team.
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He tied Dustin Pedroia for the team lead in batting average at .318, trailing only batting title champion Jose Altuve in the AL. Betts also finished in the top eight in the league in doubles, slugging and OPS.
While he insists that he doesn’t consider himself a power hitter, Betts saw a massive power spike in his age 23 season. His ISO power jumped from .188 to .216 this season on his way to setting a career-high 31 home runs. This surge convinced manager John Farrell to move him out of the leadoff spot and into the middle of the lineup where he’d be given more opportunities to drive in runs. Despite hitting at the top of the order for most of the season, Betts still ranked fourth in the league with 113 RBI.
As productive as he was with his bat, Betts was equally impressive in the field. His 32 defensive runs saved weren’t just the most among right fielders, it was the highest among all major league players at any position – and it wasn’t even close, with the next highest coming in at 25 and only seven players in the majors posting a DRS of 20+ this season. He’s a virtual lock for the Gold Glove award without even factoring in that Fenway Park is one of the more difficult places to play the position due to it’s quirky corners.
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Speed is another element of his game, as Betts swiped 20+ bases for the second consecutive season. His 26 steals were the sixth most in the league and if it weren’t for a sore knee hindering him late in the season he may very well have made a run at the rare 30/30 club.
Betts is a five-tool player that provides elite value in every aspect of the game. It’s why he’s ranked second in the majors with a 9.6 WAR, trailing only Mike Trout (10.6 WAR), who plays for an Angels team that couldn’t even sniff the postseason.
Over the past few seasons we’ve seen Betts evolve from a promising young player, to an All-Star to being among the best players in baseball. He’s the best player on this team, which is why he earns top marks.
Grade: A+
Next: New big bats spell doom for Swihart
What’s Next?
With David Ortiz drifting off into retirement, this is now Mookie’s team. Pedroia will remain the veteran leader in the clubhouse, but Betts is now the cornerstone of the franchise.
Still only 24 years old, Betts still has room to grow. He won’t be arbitration eligible until 2018, so the Red Sox will retain his superstar production at a bargain price. Expect many more All-Star appearances in his future, as Betts looks to build on his career season.