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Red Sox: Top-10 reasons to get excited about baseball in 2018

By Cole Witaszek

BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 09: Andrew Benintendi #16 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates with Mookie Betts #50 after hitting a two-run home run in the fifth inning against the Houston Astros during game four of the American League Division Series at Fenway Park on October 9, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 09: Andrew Benintendi #16 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates with Mookie Betts #50 after hitting a two-run home run in the fifth inning against the Houston Astros during game four of the American League Division Series at Fenway Park on October 9, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MA – OCTOBER 09: Mookie Betts #50 of the Boston Red Sox takes the field before game four of the American League Division Series between the Houston Astros and the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on October 9, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – OCTOBER 09: Mookie Betts #50 of the Boston Red Sox takes the field before game four of the American League Division Series between the Houston Astros and the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on October 9, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

Yes, it’s a bit of a cop-out to have three slides pertaining to the Red Sox outfield; what can I say, it’s an exciting bunch. It’s easy to forget just how good Mookie Betts is at baseball. The former 4th round pick joined the Red Sox down the stretch of 2014 and has been a staple on the team ever since.

Betts wasn’t quite the MVP level superstar last season that he was in 2016, but he was still one of the most productive outfielders in baseball. While his OPS dipped 100 points, Mookie still finished 5th among all outfielders in baseball with a fWAR of 5.3.

He’s still just 25 years old and seems poised as ever to have another monster season. Odds are Mookie won’t have a BABIP as low as .268 again, so if he just reproduces his performance from last season some better luck might put him right up in the MVP conversation.

Betts is one of the most freakishly athletic people to dawn a Red Sox uniform I’ve ever seen and he may not have even entered his prime. If that doesn’t excite you then you’re probably on the wrong site.

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