Triston McKenzie gets the top spot on the 20th edition of the 2022 #HighFive list after racking up a career high 14 strikeouts in his win last Friday against the Chicago White Sox.
1. Triston “Dr Sticks” McKenzie
Triston McKenzie’s rise from top prospect to bonafide Ace has put the rest of the Majors on notice.
Last Friday he struck out a career high 14 batters and walked none through seven innings allowing just two earned runs on six hits in the Guardians 5-2 win over the White Sox.
It was the 14th time this season McKenzie struck out at least six batters and the third consecutive quality start he has had.
This reign of dominance can be traced back to July where he posted a 1.34 ERA and allowed a batting average against of 1.65; that number for August is now at 1.98.
2. Cedric “CM Storm” Mullins
From being optioned down to Triple A and having to change his entire offensive philosophy, to winning his first career Silver Slugger award while becoming the first ever Baltimore Oriole to go 30/30, these last few years have been a whirlwind for Cedric Mullins, but it culminates with him being named to the Team USA Roster for the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
Mullins will be following in the footsteps of former Oriole MLBbro outfielder Adam Jones who started for the team in center field in 2017 and made the play of the tournament when he robbed his teammate Manny Machado of a home run in the semifinal game.
Mullins who is batting .321 with a .607 slugging percentage, .406 on base percentage, seven runs and a stolen base over his last seven games will be joined in the USA outfield by former MVP’s Mike Trout and Mookie Betts.
3. Aaron Judge
Aaron Judge went yard twice this week giving him 48 homers, 14 away from passing Roger Maris for the most home runs in a single season by a New York Yankee.
Every week Judge adds another accolade for his case of having the greatest regular season in Yankee history.
He became the first American League player to hit 45 homers while scoring and driving in 100 runs through a player’s first 120 games since Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle both did it in 1961.
Judge’s next chance to close in on the record will be in Oakland during a four-game series against the A’s.
4. Vaughn Grissom
Not too long ago “King” Vaughn Grissom was taking classes in high school, now the 21-year old is batting .346 over his last seven games and is a catalyst in the efforts for last years World Series winners to become the first team to repeat as champions since the Yankees won three in a row from 1998-2000.
Grissom also earned the honor of being the first player to be named as Rob Parker’s Home Boi Highlights for two consecutive weeks. Through his first 15 career games he is batting .382 with three home runs, two steals and 10 RBI. He also registered a first-to-home speed of 9.58 seconds when scoring on a Michael Harris II base hit, which places him in the top 20 for times recorded this year.
This weekend Grissom and his Braves take on the St. Louis Cardinals with the series final game airing as this week’s edition of ESPN Sunday Night Baseball.
5. David Price
Black Ace David Price is the best Black starter of our generation and even with his role changing over the last few seasons he still knows how to get the job done.
During the month of August, Price has a 0.84 ERA and did not allow a hit through his first eight appearances.
That and another streak of 12 games without allowing a run since the All-Star Break was snapped this past Sunday when a fellow Vanderbilt alum took Price deep for his first career homer.
This season the former Cy Young and five-time All-Star has a 2.43 ERA through 36 appearances.
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