This baseball season has, in short, been amazing! There are teams that are exceeding expectations like the San Francisco Giants, the Chicago Cubs, and the Tampa Bay Rays. There are players who we expected to be amazing and exciting like Fernando Tatis Jr. and Dante Bichette. There are players who have made incredible comebacks like Trey Mancini and Kris Bryant. And, there are players who have popped onto the scene like Yermin Mercedes and Akil Badoo.
I love the game of baseball for the competition and the loyalty of cheering for a team, but one aspect of the game I really enjoy is seeing postive individual achievement contribute to the overall team success. Here are the Top 5 players I am most excited to watch and follow at this point in the season.
#5 Matthew Boyd Detroit Tigers
He doesn't throw 100 mph. He doesn't have a sub 1 ERA. He doesn't have the flash and flair that East Coast and West Coast team aces have, but Matthew Boyd gets the job done. He also does it on a pretty bad Detroit Tigers team. His record isn't great 3-6 but his ERA is respectable at 3.36. He averages just under 6 innings a start, so he is keeping his team in the game every time he goes out there. I enjoy his poise on the mound, and I love cheering for the underdog. To me, Matthew Boyd is an old-school, "get the job done," pitcher who is fun to watch.
#4 Kris Bryant Chicago Cubs
Bryant won't win MVP as some have talked about, but he certainly should be considered for a comeback player candidate. He is a significant part of the resurgence of the Chicago Cubs. He is batting .297 with 13 HR and 39 RBI, but what is even more valuable about this guy is his positive presence on the field and in the clubhouse. I really like it when I see Bryant in the line-up.
#3 Brandon Crawford San Franciso Giants
Catcher Buster Posey is getting all the press and should be in consideration for the comeback player along with Bryant, but Brandon Crawford is who I like to watch when staying up late for a West Coast game. Add this guy to the "All Dirt Team." He is always getting his hands, jersey and hat dirty while making some really amazing plays look easy. It feels like he has been patroling that space between second and third forever, but this nine-year veteran gets it done not only in the field, but also with his bat. Even though his average is .251, his hits always seem to come at clutch moments. He has also sent 14 HR's into the seats and knocked in 41 RBI. Stay up late to see this guy play in the bay.
#2 Cedric Mullins Baltimore Orioles
Once again, here is another guy who is getting overshadowed by a comeback player. But if you look quickly, you will catch this center fielding, lead-off hitter in Baltimore. It seems like every time I catch the MLB Instagram Reel, there is Cedric Mullins with a stolen base, home run or amazing running catch. This guy is fast, skilled, and fun to watch.
#1 Fernando Tatis Jr. San Diego Padres
It isn't an exciting pick (he leads everyone's lists), but he is an exciting player to watch. You never know what you will see with Tatis Jr. Will he do something to challenge the baseball norms? Will he pick a scorching line drive or make an off-balance throw for an out? Will he simply "jack" the ball out of the park and let everyone know about it with a styled bat-flip? Somehow, even when FTJ does something ordinary, it has a flair that just makes him special.
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