#HIGHFIVE | Top 5 Black & Brown MLB Players (Week 16)

#HIGHFIVE | Top 5 Black & Brown MLB Players (Week 16)

by | Jul 30, 2021 | THE LEAD OFF

This week Andrew McCutchen was vibing like he did during his 2013 National League MVP season.

He terrorized the Washington Nationals by hitting three home runs on three consecutive game days including a walk-off three run game winning shot in Monday’s game. 

For that, he earns the top spot on our Week 16 MLBbro #HighFive list.

 

1. Andrew McCutchen


“Cutch” was up with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning with two ducks on the pond during Monday night’s game against the National. The vet came through in one of the biggest moments of the Phillies season, deciding to call “game” by hitting a walk-off home run over the right field fence. 

 

 

This week is no anomaly, as Andrew McCutchen has been on a redemption tour this entire season.

The former National League MVP and five-time All-Star hit his 20th home run of the season during Thursday’s double-header (which already equals his total for both 2019 and 2020 combined).

With two months left in the season, he also has a chance of reaching the 30-homer plateau for the second time in his career. The other being in 2012.

 

 

McCutchen batted .346 with three home runs, six RBI, six runs, six walks and a .731 slugging percentage over the last week.

This weekend he’ll travel to Pittsburgh to face Ke’Bryan Hayes and the Pirates. 

 

 

2. LaMonte Wade Jr.

 

LaMonte Wade Jr. impacted one of the biggest rivalries in all of baseball when his first-place San Francisco Giants met the Dodgers, earning him his first appearance on our #HighFive list this season.

 

Lamont Wade Jr. Is On Hammer Time For First Place Giants

 

On Wednesday night, he put the nail in the coffin during a four-run comeback in the top of the ninth inning in L.A.  

Then Wade Jr. put in overtime with his work at the plate over the weekend.  He had three home runs in two days.

 

 

Over his past seven games Wade has three home runs, seven RBI, and a .917 slugging percentage.

Wade has found comfort in the leadoff spot for the Giants.

 

 

3.  “The Real Deal”  Akil Baddoo


BADDOO MANIA is back as he has officially begun campaigning for the American League Rookie of the Year award.

Baddoo is the only person to reappear on our list from Week 15.  He homered three times this week including a solo shot during his 2-for-5 day at the plate on Tuesday. 

 

 

Since coming back from the All-Star break, Baddoo has gotten off to the same hot start he did at the beginning of the season.

Over his last 15 games he has a .297 batting average, five home runs and 15 RBI. 

 

 

Baddoo and his Tigers will take on Cedric “CM Storm” Mullins and the Baltimore Orioles in a four game set this weekend..

 

4. George Springer

George Springer has recovered from the bumps and bruises that impeded the first half of his season and is tearing the cover off of baseballs, as well as being one of the more elite defensive outfielders in the game.

He was recently named as Rob Parker’s Home Boi Highlight.

 

 

This past Saturday night, Springer made one of the best catches you will ever see when he did a lit Jumpman impression by diving for a catch in center field. 

 

 

This weekend Springer will get another chance to play in front of a Canadian audience during Toronto’s series against the Kansas City Royals.

 

5. Cedric Mullins


Mullins’ first half All-Star nod was not a fluke as he’s still among MLB’s best hitters.

Mullins hit home run number 17 during Tuesday’s game against the Miami Marlins and has also climbed to sixth place MLB’s batting title chase. 

Mullins also leads MLB outfielders with a 4.1 WAR and is leading all American League outfielders in hits, OPS and is tied for the lead in triples and doubles. 

 

LaMonte Wade Jr. | Get Hip To The San Francisco Giants Wood Wacker

LaMonte Wade Jr. | Get Hip To The San Francisco Giants Wood Wacker

by | Jun 3, 2021 | THE THREE SPOT

LaMonte Wade Jr. is a hidden gem in San Francisco Giants organization. The 27-year-old outfielder is in his first season with the Giants and he has immediately made an impact on the team. 

In his last game, he hit his first home run of the 2021 season as that helped the Giants defeat the LA Angels 6-1.

 

 

Through nine games this season, Wade Jr. has been on a tear. He’s batting .350 while slugging .550. 

He missed some time during the season due to an oblique strain, but he returned in full force. Giants manager Gabe Kapler did not waste any time putting Wade Jr. in the lineup when he returned from his injury.

 

“We’re going to give Wade a chance to play and see how he looks,” Kapler said in an article from the San Francisco Chronicle. “He was swinging the bat very well when he went on the IL, and we want to give him an opportunity to show us what he can do.”

 

This guy has some versatility as well. Not only can he play the outfield, but he can also play first base. He’s already made it known that he knows how to hit. His debut with the Giants was one to remember. 

 

 

MLBbro went 2-for-3 with a double and a walk in his first game against the Colorado Rockies. Now that’s how you make an appearance to your new team right there.

When Wade Jr. has heard his name called, he’s stepped up so far this season. He’s on a five-game hitting streak and though he’s not an everyday player, he’s making a name for himself.

The Giants will have no choice but to find a place for Wade Jr. in the lineup if he continues to have this kind of success at the plate.

 

 

In 2019, Wade Jr. made his MLB debut. The Twins promoted him to the big league roster and he appeared in his first game on June 28 against the Chicago White Sox. He played in 26 games, finishing with a .196 batting average.

 The next season he saw his batting average increase during the shortened season. He finished with a .231 batting average through 16 games.

 

 

The Twins selected Wade Jr. in the ninth round of the 2015 draft. Our MLBbro put together an impressive performance during his time in the minors. In 2016, he started in the Midwest League All-Star Game. That season he finished the season batting .293 and hit eight home runs.

The years later he was named a Southern League mid-season All-Star and was promoted to the Rochester Red Wings of the Class AAA International League in June of 2018.

This man was one of the top prospects in the Twins’ organization and he put the work in to get that recognition. 

The Twins traded Wade Jr. to the Giants earlier this year and right now it’s certainly looking like the Giants are benefitting from that trade. 

Don’t be surprised to see more of Wade Jr. in the lineup for the Giants as he continues to swing a hot stick.