#HIGHFIVE | Top 5 MLBbros (Week 8)

#HIGHFIVE | Top 5 MLBbros (Week 8)

by | Jun 3, 2022 | THE LEAD OFF

Mookie Betts had a month of May for the record books and takes top spot Week 8 of our #HighFive List for the second time in a row.

1. Mookie Betts

 


Mookie Betts put up numbers during the month of May that have only been seen by seven players in Major League history including Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth.

He should win the National League Player of the Month Award after finishing with a .342 average, 12 home runs, 27 RBI, 31 runs, 10 doubles, 13 walks and a .411 on base percentage.

 

 

Betts’ power surge at the plate has led to a National League leading 16 home runs while his league leading 51 runs have him on pace for almost 170 this season.

Voting for the 2022 All-Star Game which will be held in Betts’ home ballpark of Dodgers Stadium opens early next week and it’s certain he will be in right field batting leadoff for the National League.  The only question being whether or not he can lead all players in total votes.

 

Mookie Betts Is Scoring Runs At An Insanely Historic Rate | The MLBbro Can’t Miss The Dish

 

This weekend Betts and his Dodgers host the New York Mets who have the best record in baseball for a four-game series.

2. J.P. Crawford

 


Entering Thursday J.P. Crawford only trails Mike Trout and his teammate Ty France for the highest Wins Above Replacement rating in the American League, as he is keeping his Mariner team above water.

 

Crawford is on pace to have the best season of his career, this coming off 2021 where he put up the best numbers he has produced in almost every hitting category including a .273 average, nine home runs and 54 RBI.

 

Crawford hit his fifth home run of the season Wednesday and is batting .375 with a .483 on base percentage over his last seven games.

This weekend Crawford travels to Texas to take on Marcus Semien and the Rangers in Arlington.

3. Ke’Bryan Hayes

 


Ke’Bryan Hayes’ three-run game winning home run in the 9th inning last week against the Padres was perfect timing for his first of the season.

Hayes is the face of the Pittsburgh Pirate franchise and has put up numbers to earn that title.

Entering Thursday his .293 average was fourth highest of all Major League third basemen and he is starting to get back on track on defense after starting the year with an uncharacteristic amount of errors.

 

 

This week Hayes and his Pirates made history by sweeping Mookie Betts and the Dodgers in Los Angeles for the first time since 2000. 

He finished the two-game set going 4-for-9 with a stolen base and a run scored as his team has won four out of their last five ballgames.

Over his last seven games Hayes is batting .300 with five RBI and will travel to the desert to take on the Arizona Diamondbacks this weekend.

4. Triston McKenzie

 

In five starts during the month of May Triston McKenzie posted a 2.12 ERA and held batters to a mediocre .155 batting average and earned a record of 3-2.

Each start McKenzie threw at least six innings and gave up no more than three runs.

His best start of the stretch happened to be his last start where he went a season high 7.2 innings allowing just four hits and two runs on eight strikeouts last Saturday against the Tigers.


Another impressive bit from McKenzie’s month is that four of his five starts were all on the road as he begins to show some signs of comfort in his third career season.

McKenzie’s next start will be another road test, this time in Camden Yards against reigning American League Silver Slugger and starting All-Star outfielder Cedric Mullins.

5. Nick Plummer

 


Nick Plummer came up big in Primetime this week and earns a spot on our #High/Five after the first week of his career.

Down by one in the ninth inning on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball against the rival Phillies, Plummer hit a game-tying home run on the first pitch of the at-bat, becoming the 14th Met to hit a home run as the first hit of their career.

 

Nick Plummer Might Be The Next Black NY Mets Superstar | The Borough Of Queens Is Long Overdue For Some Soul Sauce


For an encore the next day Plummer followed with a 3-for-4 game, hitting another home run to go along with a double and four RBI.

After the demotion of Dominic Smith earlier this week Plummer’s roster spot will be his to lose.

This weekend the Lathrup Village, Michigan native will play his first Major League game at Dodgers Stadium as he looks to outdo this weeks #High/Five leader Mookie Betts.

Nick Plummer Might Be The Next Black NY Mets Superstar | The Borough Of Queens Is Long Overdue For Some Soul Sauce

Nick Plummer Might Be The Next Black NY Mets Superstar | The Borough Of Queens Is Long Overdue For Some Soul Sauce

by | Jun 1, 2022 | THE LEAD OFF

A year ago, Nick Plummer was playing in the minor leagues and now he’s on the big league stage and quickly gaining attention. Harkening the days of outfielder Darryl Strawberry, shortstop Hubie Brooks and Black Ace Dwight Gooden;  MLBbro legends forever immortalized in Mets lore.

Plummer became a fan favorite in a span of two days. The New York Mets rookie outfielder answered in a big way when his number was called. 

 

On Sunday, Plummer helped the Mets come from behind to defeat the Philadelphia Phillies 5-4 in 10 innings.

Throughout the game Plummer was held hitless up until the ninth inning. That’s where he recorded his first big league hit of his career and it was a home run. 

 

His home run tied the game and gave the Mets momentum heading into extra innings. A game Plummer will never forget.  And that’s not all either. A day after he hit his first home run, he followed that up with an explosive day at the plate against the Washington Nationals.

On Monday, Plummer went 3-for-4 with a double, home run, and four RBI. That’s right, this brother homered in back-to-back games and displayed how talented he is at the plate. You can’t make this stuff up either.

His teammates were excited for him as he recorded his first career hit.

“Oh, I’m so happy for him,” Eduardo Escobar said in an article from mlb.com. “It’s unbelievable. I’m so happy for Plummer, and hopefully now comes more.”

 

Plummer quickly rose to stardom throughout the league with these two impressive performances and we’re just getting a taste of what the #MLBbro can do.

The Mets signed Plummer to a one-year deal last year in November. Prior to that he spent time in the St. Louis Cardinals organization where he was a first-round draft pick in 2015.

“I knew coming over here after signing in free agency that this was going to be a winning ballclub,” Plummer said. “It’s really been great. For them to go out and seek me in the free agency market was a big compliment for myself, especially coming off my tenure with the Cardinals. Just to come over here and help the team win, you can’t ask for much more.”

During the 2021 season, he spent time playing for the Cardinals Double-A and Triple-A affiliate and hit over .265 during those two stints.

New York took a chance on Plummer and saw the potential he has. 

Well, it is starting to pay off now. While the Mets are dealing with injuries, Plummer is making the most of his opportunities on the field and he’s giving the team a good reason to keep him around. The 25-year-old possesses a lot of power from the left side of the plate and also has quick hands. 

It’s going to be exciting watching Plummer develop as his career progresses. The Mets have a talented individual and this MLBbro is going to make sure that he goes out there and gives his all every chance he gets.

by | May 30, 2022 | FRONT STREET

MLBbro Nick Plummer hit a game-tying homer in the top of the 9th inning for the first hit of his career, helping the Mets to 5-4 extra inning win over Phillies in 10.