#HIGHFIVE | Top 5 Black and brown MLB Players (Week 11)

#HIGHFIVE | Top 5 Black and brown MLB Players (Week 11)

by | Jun 24, 2022 | THE LEAD OFF

Michael Brantley has been one of the best hitters on the planet through the first three of weeks June, while attempting to be the only current player in the Majors with an average of .300 or over for five consecutive seasons.  Baseball’s silent assassin, “The Professional”, earns the top spot in Week 11 of our #HighFive List.

1. Michael Brantley

This month Brantley is batting .390 with a .525 slugging percentage and two home runs, including a grand slam last week against the White Sox.

Brantley, a five-time All-Star, has been one of the best at making solid contact this season.

His 24% contact rate is the second-highest rating in the league at producing hard contact this season, only trailing teammate Yordan Alvarez’s 26.5%.  Other MLBbros Mookie Betts (22.2%) and Aaron Judge (21.4%) follow Brantley on that list.

Brantley has a hit in 15 of 16 games played this month, including eight with multiple hits.

Stick Talk: Michael “The Professional” Brantley

This weekend Brantley and the Astros welcome Aaron Judge and the first-place Yankees to Houston for a four-game series beginning Thursday.

2. Josh Bell

Josh Bell gave the Phillies hell last week with four home runs in three days as he earns the two spot on this week’s #HighFive list.

Since joining the Nationals last year, Bell has eight home runs, 23 RBI, and a .293 average when playing against Philadelphia.

They might have gotten some of the worst of it, but they are not the only pitching staff Bell has been effective against during his tenure in D.C.

Last year was a great bounce back for Bell after a down year in 2020. This season he has proven to be one of the best first basemen in the National League.

Bell, batting .348 with four home runs, six RBI and a .870 slugging percentage over his last seven games ranks in the top five for OPS, RBI, average, and runs scored.

Josh Bell’s Unlimited Potential Is Truly Emerging | Washington Nationals Slugger Bringing Big Stick Energy

This weekend Bell and his Nationals take on the Texas Rangers in Arlington.  MLBbro pitcher Josiah Gray will be on the mound for Washington Friday night.

3. Devin Williams

Devin “Airbender” Williams is coming for the title of best reliever in the Majors this season. Based on his last 15 innings it would be hard to argue against it.

Williams has gone 15 innings without giving up a single run while striking out 23 and only walking three hitters.

The last time Willams gave up a run was May 10th when one of the worst teams in baseball got him for three runs.

In 21 of his last 22 appearances, he has not allowed a run to score.

Williams and his Brewers will welcome the Toronto Blue Jays to Milwaukee this weekend.

4. Money Michael Harris II

Michael “Money” Harris II has been the perfect fit for Braves Country since he was promoted to the Majors on May 28th. He makes the #HighFive for the second time in his short career.

The Atlanta native and Stockbridge High School graduate was ranked as the Braves top prospect at the beginning of the season. He will lose that title soon as he has shown he won’t be leaving the Big Leagues anytime soon.

Over his last seven games, Harris is hitting .333 with a home run, three RBI and four runs scored while giving Braves fans a glimpse into a future outfield that includes him and superstar outfielder Ronald Acuna, Jr.

Despite his late start, Harris II is already in the conversation for this year’s National League Rookie of The Year award. He already has one of the higher WAR ratings among all rookies.

This weekend Harris and the Braves welcome the Dodgers to Atlanta for the first time since defeating them in last year’s National League Championship series.

5. Taylor Trammell

When opportunity knocks you have to answer. That’s what Taylor Trammell has done since joining the Mariners in late May after a hamstring injury delayed the start of his season.

Trammell is getting significant playing time with the injury to Kyle Lewis as well as other struggles in the Mariners outfield and Trammell has made the most of it.

 

 

Over his last seven games, he is batting .313 with a .625 slugging percentage, four walks, a home run and four runs scored. This weekend Trammell and the Mariners will be in L.A. to take on the Los Angeles Angels.

J.P. Crawford Continues His Rise Up The Shortstop Ranks

J.P. Crawford Continues His Rise Up The Shortstop Ranks

by | Jul 24, 2021 | THE LEAD OFF

J.P. Crawford has evolved into a high-level player throughout the past few seasons.

When he first entered the league in 2017, it was just a matter of time until he would blow up.

When you talk about some of the top players in the league, it’s hard not to mention Crawford. 

The talented shortstop already has a Gold Glove Award under his belt and this season he had his eyes set on an All-Star selection.

 

J.P. Crawford’s Bat Is Catching Up To His Gold Glove

 

As the 2021 season progressed, Crawford was making a case for the All-Star ballot. 

This brother could not miss the ball at the plate during the month of June. He went on a six-game hitting streak earlier in the month and then not too long after went on a 12-game hitting streak.

Yes, this was all in the same month. He finished June with a .352 batting average with three home runs and 14 RBI.

 

Home Boi Highlights | J.P. Crawford

 

With those numbers you think he would be a shoe in to make the All-Star team. But unfortunately Crawford did not. The abundance of shortstop talent made him the odd man out.

Not being selected to the All-Star Game had Crawford feeling some type of way. “I was hurt. I still am,” Crawford told mlb.com when he was not selected. “I thought I had a shot to definitely be there. It’s a shame. I really wanted to represent Seattle…”

Though Crawford wasn’t selected to play in the All-Star Game, he knows that there is a lot more at stake this season.

Crawford has emerged as a leader in his third season with the Seattle Mariners. He is becoming a well-rounded, highly-confident player.

“I know I can compete with the best of them now, so I’ve just got to stay healthy,” Crawford said. 

“My first game here in ‘19, I was just trying to stay quiet, show these guys what I could do and stay out of the way,” Crawford said. “And now I feel like this is my team. And I feel that energy. Guys come up to me. I want them to come up to me. And I want to be that guy because I’ve always been that leader-type role, and I’m ready for it. This is my team. I want to lead us to the promised land.”

 

Our MLBbro is ready to help lead his team to the playoffs and he’s determined to build on the success he had during the 2020 season.

 

Through 96 games, Crawford has a .270 batting average with five home runs and 31 RBI. 

Though he didn’t make the All-Star team, Crawford is going to continue to show why he’s one of the top players in the league and he’ll be a Bro you definitely need to know during the second half of the season.