MLBbros Bringing The Soul Patrol | AL All-Stars Feature First All-Black Starting Outfield Since 2017

MLBbros Bringing The Soul Patrol | AL All-Stars Feature First All-Black Starting Outfield Since 2017

by | Jul 18, 2022 | THE LEAD OFF

For only the second time since 1996 there will be three MLBbros starting in the outfield for the American League at the All-Star Game.

Sunday afternoon it was announced that Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton would step into the American League starting lineup after Mike Trout pulled out of the game due to injury, making way for a historic moment.

Byron Buxton Came Off The DL With An MLBbro Flow That’s Dismantling Pitchers

 

The last time the AL started three Black outfielders was 2017; with Houston’s George Springer, Boston’s Mookie Betts, and Aaron Judge of the Yankees patrolling Marlins Park.

Judge is back, along with teammate Giancarlo Stanton to join Buxton among the starters as the American League looks to win the Midsummer Classic for the eighth straight time.

 

Before 2017, the AL hadn’t started three Black outfielders since 1995 when Albert Belle, Kenny Lofton, and Kirby Puckett did so. From 1991-95, each time the American League filled out its lineup card, there were three Black outfielders leading the way.

They weren’t just stars of their day either, these were some of the greatest of all-time. A collection of MVPs and future Hall of Famers.

During that five-year stretch Ken Griffey Jr. and Puckett made the All-Star team four times each. Both are enshrined in Cooperstown. Two-time World Series champion Joe Carter was a part of three of those teams, with Rickey Henderson, Dave Henderson, Belle, and Lofton each appearing once over that span.

Two times in five years isn’t exactly bringing the game to the golden era of Black participation in Major League Baseball, but it is a major step forward and a testament to the increasing level of Black talent coming back to the game.

Perhaps another generation of stars will be inspired by what they see Tuesday night in Dodger Stadium when Judge, Buxton, and Stanton run out to take their positions.

And, perhaps one or more of the three will lay another brick on their path to the Hall of Fame themselves.

Either way, it’ll be great to see.

Giancarlo Stanton Makes First All-Star Game In Five Seasons | Welcome Back MLBbro Soul Patroller

Giancarlo Stanton Makes First All-Star Game In Five Seasons | Welcome Back MLBbro Soul Patroller

by | Jul 18, 2022 | THE THREE SPOT

New York Yankees outfielder Giancarlo Stanton will be making his fifth All-Star Game appearance on Tuesday and his first appearance as a Yankee.

It’s been five years since Stanton last appeared in an All-Star Game and it will be exciting to see him starting in the outfield alongside teammate and fellow MLBbro Aaron Judge.

Stanton made his debut with the Yankees in 2018 and the spotlight was immediately on him. And he went on to have a pretty productive season, belting 38 home runs with 100 RBI and hitting .266. Those aren’t numbers you see every day, especially when he hit 59 home runs in 2017.

 

Giancarlo Stanton Will Play Key Role In Yankees Contention For World Series Title

 

Coming to New York from Florida, Stanton was immersed in a city whose fans are passionate about their team, whether the team is having success or not.

“I understand how much more distractions and noise are here, but that’s also a learning curve as well,” Stanton told The New York Post. “I wouldn’t say nothing bothers me, but in terms of what I can control, I try not to let outside things bother me in terms of preparation or my mindset or how I perform.”

This season Stanton has been focused out there and he’s been one of the most productive players on the team. It’s no surprise he was named a starter in this year’s All-Star Game.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone has seen a lot of improvement with Stanton throughout the years.

“I think it’s a tribute to him, to be really strong mentally,” Boone said. “If something good or bad with him happens within the context of the game, he’s really good at just continuing to move on, and ultimately that’s such an important quality to have. … He has that, and I think playing here has just sharpened that.”

“He’s learned how to deal with criticism, noise, good and bad. … And I just think that overall speaks to the kind of pro he is.”

The Yankees have the best record in the league and Stanton has certainly played his part in the success of his team.

 

“Every time he steps to the plate,” Aaron Judge said, “if there’s bases loaded or nobody on, he has a chance to swing the game in our favor with just one swing of the bat. So it’s been fun to watch him all year do his thing. I’m still waiting for him to get hot. It’s pretty crazy. … I can’t wait to see him go on one of those streaks.”

Stanton could win his first World Series ring at the end of the season. With all the individual accolades that he has received during his career, a World Series title would be the icing on the cake.

It will be exciting to watch Stanton during the second half of the season and he’ll continue to be focused out there and look to put his team in positions to win ball games.

MLBbro Devin Williams ‘AKA’ Airbender Will Be In LA For His First All-Star Game | As He Should

MLBbro Devin Williams ‘AKA’ Airbender Will Be In LA For His First All-Star Game | As He Should

by | Jul 18, 2022 | 6TH SLOT

Devin Williams aka the Airbender will represent Black pitchers around the world after being named to the National League All-Star Team.

 

 

Entering Sunday Milwaukee’s Devin Williams has gone 26 consecutive appearances without giving up a single run, a streak that dates all the way back to a May 10 outing in Cincinnati.

Since that night Williams has made a case for being the most dominant pitcher, not just reliever, in the Majors, so it was a surprise to many around the sport that it took this long for him to be named to the National League All-Star Roster.

This year Williams is leading all relievers in holds and has a 1.77 ERA with 59 strikeouts and six saves in 39 games. 

 

 

During the month of June hitters only posted an average of .032 and as we just passed the halfway point of July, their average for this month stands at just 1.43.

Williams is a homegrown member to one of baseball’s most dominant staffs over the last five plus seasons. He was drafted out of Hazelwood West High School near St. Louis in the second round of the 2013 MLB Draft.

It took him some time to bring his name up through the system.  He suffered an arm injury in the Spring Training of 2017 and was forced to miss a whole year recovering from Tommy John Surgery.

In his return season in 2019, Williams was selected to the All-Star Futures Game which also featured Jo Adell who singled, scored and walked twice, Justin Dunn, Royce Lewis, McKenzie Gore and Taylor Trammell who was named the games’ MVP.

He made his Major League debut that August, but it was not until the 2020 Covid shortened season that he made a name for himself.

That year, the Airbender won the National League Rookie of the Year Award, posting a 0.33 ERA and 53 strikeouts with just nine walks.  His ERA was the lowest in a single season for someone with at least 21 innings pitched since 1913 when earned runs officially became a statistic.

Out of his three Big League seasons, 2021 was the most trying.  His 2.50 ERA looks like it will remain his career high, although about 99 percent of relievers would take that number to the bank.

 

 

The ending of his year however did not go according to plan.

During the Brewers National League Central Championship celebration, Williams punched a wall and fractured his pitching hand, ending his season that night and leaving him unavailable for their playoff run.

This season Willams is making the most of a fresh start and this All-Star selection goes to show his mindset is where it needs to be in what could be a make-or-break season for the Brew Crew.

Williams joins Mookie Betts, Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Tim Anderson, Byron Buxton, Chisolm Jr. and George Springers as MLBbros to make the All-Star team.