These Five MLBbros Started For Postseason Teams In Game 1 Of Wild Card Series

These Five MLBbros Started For Postseason Teams In Game 1 Of Wild Card Series

by | Oct 2, 2024 | THE LEAD OFF

The MLBbros were impactful and present in the various opening games of the 2024 MLB Wild Card series.

 

Justyn-Henry Malloy: Detroit Tigers

 

Justyn-Henry Malloy hit second for the surging Detroit Tigers in Game 1 of the franchise’s first postseason appearance in 14 years.

Malloy went 1-for-2 with a walk in a 3-1 win over the Houston Astros. It’s all coming together at the right time for AJ Hinch’s Detroit crew, which recovered from a sub .500 first half to snatch a Wild Card slot in the American League. The franchise survived the growing pains of All-Star Riley Green, rookie JHM and the injury to Kerry Carpenter and other key figures and now they are a team nobody wants to face.

 

 

By his second time up he was striking out to end a three-run explosion in the second inning by the Tigers. It was all they needed.

 

When you can trot out a Cy Young ace such as 18-win wonder Tarik Skubal, a triple crown pitcher, you always have a chance. His fastball and change ups were dominant as usual and he exited after six innings of no-run ball.

 

Malloy was up and down in his rookie season, showing some pop with 8 bro bombs in 202 at-bats. He has the potential to explode in a game and for AJ Hinch to give him the start in the opening Wild Card game is a huge indication that he believes the young outfielder is a part of the Tigers’ future.

Tommy Pham: Kansas City Royals

 

There’s that man again. Playoff Tommy Pham, who always plays his best when the stakes are high. He’s been a consistent catalyst for teams looking to either get out of the doldrums or seeking a veteran spark who can bring, energy, a loud bat and a competitive, winning spirit to a possible contender.

 

Adding Pham to a Royals team that is built around Bobby Witt and veteran catcher Salvador Perez was a genius move. Pham helped the Arizona Diamondback make a fairy tale run to the World Series last season. Pham is a .313 career playoff hitter with 36 hits and 6 homers and 10 RBI in 115 postseason at-bats.

 

 

Pham was 0-for-3 in his first playoff game on Tuesday with the Royals, but they managed to win a 1-0 pitcher’s duel over the Baltimore Orioles in Game 1 of the Wild Card series.

 

Pham played just 23 games with the Royals in the regular season after stops in Cry-town and St. Louis. He impacted the team’s late season run to the Wild Card and will be counted on heavily as he batted seventh and played right field in Game 1.

Cedric “CM Storm” Mullins: Baltimore Orioles

 

Cedric Mullins has been here before with the Birds. He’s no longer the catalyst of the offense, the 30-30 leadoff guy that he was in 2021, but he’s still a leader on this team and a very productive player with the glove and at the plate.

 

Mullins led the Orioles with two hits in the franchise’s Game 1, 1-0 loss to the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday. During the season, CM Storm hit 18 homers and stole 32 bases. He’s a weapon in the eighth spot for the O’s, who probably should have the veteran hitting higher in the order during the playoffs.

 

 

Tyrone Taylor: Mets 

 

Tyrone Taylor has found a home with the NY Mets after spending the first six years of his career with the Milwaukee Brewers who drafted him in the second round in 2012.

 

Taylor got over 300 at-bats for just the second time in his career and the 30-year-old only hit 7 bro bombs but he provided a combination of durability (130 games played), speed (11 steals) and solid defense for the Mets, who creeped into the postseason with a 360 degree turn in the second half behind shortstop Francisco Lindor and a host of steady role players like Taylor, who started and batted eighth for the Miracle Mets in Game 1 of their Wild Card Series against the Milwaukee Brewers.

 

 

In that game, Taylor went 1-for-4 with a run scored to help lift the Mets to an 8-4 win in Game 1.  In the last 15 games of the season with the Mets fighting tooth and nail for an NL Wild Card, Taylor hit .298 and slugged. 447.

 

Michael Harris II: Atlanta Braves 

 

Entering Game 1 of the Wild Card series against San Diego Padres, Michael Harris II was 1-for-27 over eight games in two postseasons for the Atlanta Braves. He enters these playoffs on fire, coming off a streak of five homers in seven games to end the regular season. Harris was able to collect two of his team’s seven hits in a 4-0, Game 1 loss to the Padres, continuing his torrid hitting.

After batting over .290 in his first two seasons, including his 2022 NL Rookie of the Year campaign, Harris struggled mightily throughout most of this season, but was able to find his groove in the last two months of the season and salvage a respectable .264 batting average with 16 homers.

 

 

Now, he’s firmly cemented as the Braves’ leadoff hitter and he looks poised to finally have his breakout playoffs, which would make the growing pains he experiences this season worthwhile.

 

He’s sure to produce a web gem or two as he is among the best centerfielders in the past 20 years, and we are yet to see the best of him at the plate…that’s a scary thought.

 

These Electrifying Diamond Miners Will Be Representing MLBbro Nation In SiriusXM All-Star Futures Games

These Electrifying Diamond Miners Will Be Representing MLBbro Nation In SiriusXM All-Star Futures Games

by | Jul 4, 2023 | THE THREE SPOT

On Saturday, July 8 at 7:00 p.m. ET the next generation of MLB superstars will take the field at Seattle’s T-Mobile Park for the 2023 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game.

This game has always been a showcase of the top young talent in baseball, and many participants have gone on to superstardom.

 

This year’s roster is loaded with young MLBbros waiting to burst onto the major league scene.

Here is a list of some Black players participating in Saturday’s showcase. 

 

Harry Ford – C, Seattle Mariners 

 

The 12th overall pick in the 2021 MLB draft, Ford is the top prospect in the Mariners’ farm system. He is currently ranked as the 48th prospect in baseball by MLB pipeline and No. 64 by Baseball America. He began to turn heads when he represented Great Britain in the World Baseball Classic and will look to join fellow black backstop Bo Naylor in the Bigs soon.

 

Seattle Mariners Top Prospect Harry Ford Has It All | He’s A Tremendous MLBbro Catcher With Elite Leadership Qualities

 

Justyn-Henry Mallory – 3B, Detroit Tigers 

 

A 6th round pick in the 2021 MLB draft, third baseman Justyn-Henry Mallory was in line to join several other players who were born or played their college ball in Georgia to don a Braves uniform, but with Austin Riley signed long term he was eventually shipped to the Tigers.

 

He has an .844 OPS with 76 hits, 13 home runs and 50 RBI on the season and is expected to join the major league squad before the season is over.

 

Kyren Paris – SS/2B, Los Angeles Angels

 

A 2nd round pick in the 2019 MLB draft, Paris is hitting .234 with 11 home runs, 29 RBI, 20 stolen bases, 39 runs scored and 42 walks so far this season for the Angels minor league affiliate. A staple in the top third of the lineup, many have projected Paris to be a second baseman by the time he is ready for the majors. 

 

 

Lawerence Butler – OF, Oakland Athletics 

 

While all the talk out of Oakland has been about their pending move to Sin City, Lawrence Butler has begun to turn heads as the latest young Athletics prospect to flash big league potential. He has risen to top 10 in their farm system after posting a .829 OPS with 10 home runs, 43 RBI and 50 runs scored so far this season. 

 

MLBbro Lawrence Butler Is Part Of “The New Oakland” A’s Youth Movement

 

Markevian “Tink” Hence – RHP, St. Louis Cardinals

 

Hence recently received the call up to Double-A after posting a 2-1 record with a 2.81 ERA this season in Peoria, Illinois. Last year he posted a 1.38 ERA in 16 starts with their then Single-A affiliate out in Palm Beach. The 63rd pick in the 2020 MLB Draft, Hence will be one of nine pitchers to represent the National League on Saturday. 

 

 

J.P Massey – RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates 

 

Massey is another future Black ace looking to put his talents on display in Seattle. A 7th round pick in the 2022 Mob draft, Opponents have struggled to make contact against the Chicago native this season, hitting just .221 against the righty.

 

 

Ryan Bliss – SS, Arizona Diamondbacks 

 

Bliss may be one of the smallest prospects in stature (He’s listed at 5’ 6, 165) but he has been prolific at the plate this season for the Diamondbacks Double-A affiliate. Bliss is slashing .349/.400/.586 with 12 home runs, 22 doubles and 4 triples and 163 total bases so far. He is expected to make his MLB debut in 2024.

 

BJ Murray, 3B, Chicago Cubs 

 

Known by many as simply BJ, Bertram Gerard Alfonzo Murray Jr. could potentially add to the legacy of Bahamian MLBbros like current big leaguer Jazz Chisholm Jr. has done. Murray has hit 7 home runs and 17 doubles on the season while switch hitting for the Cubs Double-A affiliate.

 

Justin Crawford – OF, Philadelphia Phillies 

 

The number 3 prospect in the Phillies pipeline, Crawford has flashed that same speed that helped his father Carl become a four-time MLB All Star and Gold Glove winner. The 19-year-old is currently hitting .338 with a .388 OBP and 33 stolen bases on the season. He has yet to hit a home run but has still managed to collect 10 doubles and 88 total bases.

 

 

Victor Scott II – CF, St Louis Cardinals 

 

Victor Scott II is another young Black prospect in the Cardinals farm system looking to make a name for himself on the biggest stage. His numbers at the plate won’t blow you away, but his 52 stolen bases this season are certainly something that will catch your attention. With the rise of stolen bases given the new rules, a player with Scott’s speed could add another threat to the Cardinals lineup.