Boston Red Sox top-10 MLB All-Star Game performances
By Sean Penney
Mookie Betts – 2017
A reminder that being an All-Star isn’t always about what you can do with your bat. Mookie Betts was an uneventful 0-for-2 in two plate appearances batting out of the number nine spot in the 2017 All-Star Game. We’re seeing this year that Betts is among the best hitters in baseball, he simply didn’t show it on this stage a year ago.
Betts is a five-tool player, so when he’s not getting it done at the plate there are plenty of other ways he can contribute. In this case, it was with his glove.
While every defensive metric around rates Betts as the best right fielder in baseball, he started this game in center field. He was voted in as a starter alongside outfielders Aaron Judge and George Springer. The American League team decided Betts was the best of the trio to use in center and he proved why with an outstanding throw in the fourth inning.
Betts drifted back to reel in a fly ball to the warning track in center field off the bat of Ryan Zimmerman. The catch was fairly routine but what followed certainly was not. Nolan Arenado thought the ball was hit deep enough for him to tag up and advance to second. Not with Betts on duty. The Red Sox star fired a laser from deep center to gun down Arenado at second base for the double-play.
Most AL teams have learned not to test the arm of Betts but the memo must not have been received out in Colorado. Lesson learned.