#HIGHFIVE | Top 5 Black & Brown MLB Players (Week 17)

Week 17 of the Major League Baseball season was one to remember for many MLBbros. 

Around the league four were honored with their respective teams’ Heart & Hustle Awards– one showed us once again there is not a thing on the planet he cannot do and another proved he is ready to be a part of a World Series run.  However, George Springer is at the top of the mountaintop on our High Five list after winning the American League Player of the Week award.

 

1. George Springer

Blue Jays fans waited 670 days between home games after COVID-19 shut down Canada last year.  This past weekend the team finally returned home to Toronto, and Springer finally got to play in his first true home series and did not disappoint. 

 

 

Saturday he homered twice in the Jay’s game against the Kansas City Royals including his 40th career leader jack.  In total Springer hit three lead-off home runs this week, giving him 42 for his career and placing him in eighth place on the All-Time list. 

 

 

Springer, who is one of two returning members from week 16 #High/Five also earned the honor of being named Rob Parker’s Home Boi Highlights.

He was named the American League Player of the Week for the third time in his career, and since we haven’t heard from Drake this summer he may be the hottest thing going in Canada.

 

 

Over his last seven games Springer is batting .517 with a 1.103 slugging percentage, four home runs, 11 RBI, 10 runs scored and four walks.

 

2. Mookie Betts

 

Mookie Betts showed us he had some skills in his bag while playing second base for the Dodgers most of this week.  Betts played second as a minor leaguer but has spent a majority of his career in the outfield, particularly in right field where he has won five Gold Gloves.

Betts is coming off an injury and as the Dodgers wait for newly acquired Trea Turner to return from the COVID list, they have tested his versatility over the last few games and he has not disappointed.

 

 

He made multiple Gold Glove worthy plays including an over-the-shoulder catch Sunday in Arizona and a diving catch to commit robbery on Houston Astros MLBbro Michael Brantley.

 

 

Betts also appears to finally be looking comfortable at the plate.  He has done a good job at getting on base this season, but some of his hitting numbers have been down.  This week he was 15-for-28 for a .536 average, a 1.214 slugging percentage, seven extra base hits and five home runs including a two-homer game in Wednesday’s victory over the Astros.

 

 

3. Cedric Mullins

American League All-Star starting centerfielder CM Storm Cedric Mullins had himself a memorable week both on and off the field.  He was awarded the Baltimore Orioles winner of the 2021 Heart & Hustle Award.

Mullins said on Twitter “It is an honor to be selected for the 2021 Heart and Hustle Award!  It’s my goal every day to go out and play hard and to the best of my ability.  I am truly grateful that my play and hardwork has been recognized by my peers.” 

On the field Mullins has been slowly creeping towards the top of the list for Major League Baseball’s batting title.  He now sits in fourth, trailing Michael Brantley by .009 points for first place. 

 

 

Over his last seven games, Mullins is batting .370 with a .452 on base percentage, six runs and a home run. 

 

4. Tim Anderson

Since originally being snubbed from making the American League All-Star roster, T.A. has been locked in on his mission to have his White Sox as the last team standing this season.

Our JR Gamble gave us his Two Cents on where he believes Anderson’s place is amongst the games top shortstops, so I’ll let him get into that while I tell you about a few highlights from his week.

 

Pasta night was on the docket Tuesday night for Anderson and his family after he hit a two-run homer against the Royals. He was also named the White Sox winner of the 2021 Heart & Hustle Award.

Anderson now sits in seventh place for the American League batting title and he had something to say about White Sox fans who have made their home ballpark electric during the past few weeks. 

“On the weekends, it’s the place to go before you go out.  We try to make it a pregame for you. You can come to the game, have some drinks, have some fun. We have a DJ up there playing good music.  Use it as a pregame before the night starts.”

 

5. Giancarlo Stanton

 

With the additions of left handed batters Joey Gallo and Anthony Rizzo, Giancarlo Stanton finally has some much needed help around him in the lineup, and now the Yankees look poised as they make their track towards a wild card spot.

 

 

Stanton batted .250 this week with a home run, seven RBI, five walks, a .400 on base percentage and a bases clearing three run double on Wednesday to help the Yankees break open their game against the Orioles.

Stanton and his Yankees have a series scheduled this weekend against the Mariners that will have huge playoff implications later on in the season.