Jacoby Ellsbury
I struggled with whether to put Jacoby Ellsbury on the 2000s list or this one, but ultimately I decided he belonged on this one. The reality is that the entirety of his Red Sox career, which spanned 2007 to 2013, merits his inclusion but because he straddled the two decades, there was no easy call to make. Since he missed out on the best players of the 2000s, he’s included here, but we’ll look at his numbers for his entire Boston career.
Ellsbury was first called up from the minors in the summer of 2007 but didn’t stick around for more than a cup of coffee until September. His breakthrough was in the ALCS and World Series and he became the starting center fielder beginning in the 2008 season. He had a below average arm but blazing speed in the field and on the bases and he hit for good average. His biggest issue was that be couldn’t stay healthy.
By far his best season was the doomed 2011 campaign when he hit .321 with 32 home runs (a career high, almost quadrupling his previous career high), 105 RBI, 212 hits, 119 runs, 52 walks, 39 stolen bases, a .376 OBP, and an OPS of .928. He also won a Gold Glove that year and many fans, myself included, believe he should have won the AL MVP (he ended up finishing second to Justin Verlander).
For his Red Sox career, Ellsbury hit .288 with 65 home runs, 314 RBI, and 241 stolen bases (including a league leading 70 in 2009). He helped the Red Sox win the World Series in 2007 and 2013 before leaving after the latter in free agency for the New York Yankees. He signed in the Bronx for big money but injuries derailed his career and he hasn’t played since 2017. The Red Sox wisely knew they got the best out of him when they let him walk.