Boston Red Sox: Five players who produced breakout seasons in 2016
By Tracy Katzke
Prior to this season, Rick Porcello established himself as a quality middle-of-the-rotation starter. After all, with the exception of last year, Porcello had won at least ten games in every season of his Major League career.
From 2009 to 2015, Porcello’s statistics were the definition of “average.” During those seven seasons, Porcello averaged 12 wins, 11 losses, an ERA of 4.39, 2.2 BB/9, 5.8 K/9, a WHIP of 1.36 and about 16.5 Quality Starts.
This season, as the front-runner to win the Cy Young Award, Porcello smashed those statistics, and established himself as one of baseball’s elite hurlers.
Porcello won 22 games while losing only four. He posted an ERA of 3.15, 1.3 BB/9, 7.6 K/9, a WHIP of 1.01, and produced 26 Quality Starts.
Numbers are one thing; however, where one ranks among one’s peers can be even more telling.
Porcello led the AL with his 22 wins and his 5.9 K:BB ratio. He finished as runner-up in five AL pitching categories: Quality Starts, WHIP, BB/9, FIP (3.40), and Adjusted ERA+ (145).
He ranked third, fourth, and fifth in the AL with 3 CG, 223 IP, and a 3.15 ERA, respectively.
Lastly, he ranked seventh among AL hurlers with 7.8 Hits/9 and eighth with 189 Ks.
Yes, Porcello had a phenomenal 2016 campaign and nothing would cap said campaign off more appropriately than the well-deserved Cy Young Award.