Byron Buxton’s power surge this week earns him the top spot on our Week 7 #HighFive list.  The Minnesota Twins CF closed the week out with home runs in three straight games and has hits in seven consecutive contests entering the weekend.

1. Byron Buxton

 

Baseball is better when Byron Buxton is playing it, so please “Bux” STAY HEALTHY!

Last season was the first time in six years where he played in at least 100 games and only the second time he accomplished the feat in his career.

Byron Buxton Is Still One Of The Best Players In MLB

Buxton has been a steady force of an underperforming Twins team that just got Royce Lewis back in the lineup after missing him for the first month and a half of the year.

Entering Thursday afternoons matinee against the Orioles he has hits in seven straight games and 10 of his last 11.  He also has at least two hits in five of his last six.

Buxton has also displayed the best of his five-tools which is speed this season.  He has a 30.2 ft per second sprint speed which is the fastest in the Majors and is perfect in each of his seven stolen base attempts.

He is slashing .400/.419/.733 with eight RBI and three home runs over his last seven games

2. J.P. Crawford

 

J.P. Crawford has been a major factor in the Seattle Mariners getting off to their best start since 2003 as he earns the two spot on this weeks #HighFive list.

J.P. Crawford Extends Hitting Streak To 15 Games In Mariners’ Win Over A’s

Crawford has the highest On Base Percentage in the Majors for any shortstop entering Thursday at .408 and is second among them in walks with 23.

In a conversation I had with Crawford last weekend, he told me the biggest key to his success this year with the birth of his first child, a daughter named Korra.

“She gave me a new perspective on life,” said Crawford.  “She saved my life.”

This weekend Crawford and his Mariners will welcome George Springer and the Blue Jays to Seattle for a three-game set following a date with fellow #HighFive member Aaron Judge and the Yankees.

3. Aaron Judge

Joy Taylor

(Photo by Joy Washington for MLBbro.com)

Aaron Judge doesn’t find himself in his usual spot atop the #HighFive list, but the third hole is a nice consolation prize.

RELATED: Aaron Judge Voted Unanimous American League Player of the Month For March/April

A slashing line of .346/.414./.846 with three home runs and five RBI over a seven-game span would lead to a parade for most players, but a few hitless games had the best hitter on the planet looking human.

In last weekend’s series against the Rays Judge finished with a .357 average.

Judge still ranks first in the Majors in most all hitting categories including home runs which he tied Cal Raleigh and Kyle Schwarber with 12 after his Bro Bomb to over the right field wall Tuesday against the Padres.

4. Victor Scott II

Vs2

Victor Scott II makes his career #HighFive debut this week thanks to what has been a solid start to his sophomore campaign.

He already has surpassed his stolen base total of five with 11, tied his home run total with two and is on track to have better numbers in average, slugging, OPS and On Base Percentage.

Victor Scott II Has Arrived For The St. Louis Cardinals

Scott’s most impressive moment this week came when he showcased his elite speed in Wednesday’s game against the Pirates when l, scoring from first base twice.

“Not many can do that,” Cardinals manager  Oliver Marmol told reporters.  “He is fun to watch, I did not think he could score but it was a great send and it shows why he (Scott) is up here”

Scott is slashing .389/.476/.444 through his first six games in May.

5. Taj Bradley

Taj Bradley got his first win since April 11th after going 5.1 innings allowing two runs on four hits, three walks and only one strikeout Sunday afternoon against Aaron Judge and the New York Yankees.

Chandler Simpson’s Speed & Taj Bradley’s Arm Helped Red-Hot Tampa Bay Stifle Aaron Judge’s Yankees

He only made one bad pitch in the outing, an inside fastball to Cody Bellinger that ended up being a two-run homer to the right field porch.

Bradley bounced back from what was a rough start against the Yankees on April 17th where he gave up six earned runs on nine hits.

His next start will be this Saturday against the Brewers.