#HIGHFIVE: Top 5 Black & Brown MLB Bros Of Week 3

#HIGHFIVE: Top 5 Black & Brown MLB Bros Of Week 3

by | Apr 22, 2021 | THE TWO HOLE

 

MLBbro.com is three weeks into our coverage of the season and a few MLB Bros are putting in serious work and proving why they are among the elite players in the sport. 

Injuries held some of our more notable Black Knights back to begin the year, but their presence was felt instantly upon returning to the diamond. Flash, clutch plays, intelligent baserunning, and big-time pitching performances were all on deck.   

However, the man who claims the top spot for Week 3 is mesmerizing batters through the power of the durag he dawns under his cap and the all that grease he delivers from his chops. 

 

Here’s my #HighFive MLB Bros For Week 3 

 

1. Marcus Stroman

Marcus Stroman is the definition of Black baseball on the mound.  Buck O’Neil is looking down on Stroman proudly and watching him embrace the spirit of the Negro Leagues by taking the MLB by storm, fighting for social justice and leading the charge for his hometown.

The Long Island native has been in our Top 3 each of the first three weeks of the season and is clearly an early candidate for the National League Cy Young award. He is 3-0 with a 0.90 ERA in 20 innings pitched and he’s doing it all with not one, but two durags covering his dreads.  

His spice on the mound is unmatched. Sometimes it even pisses people off. 

 

But Stroman has never been one to apologize for wearing his heart and emotions on his sleeve. That same passion that ticks off certain kinds of baseball fans also fueled his improbable rise from undersized shortstop out of Long Island, NY to elite MLB pitcher. 

The Gold Glover’s most impressive moment this week came when he fielded a comebacker behind his back and threw out the runner in Colorado.  He flashed his elite glove to his teammates, letting them know he makes plays like that for a reason.

 

2. Tim Anderson

The RBI Baseball 2021 cover boy claims the No. 2 spot in this week’s #HighFive. The former batting champion made a thunderous return to the lineup after missing time with a hamstring injury. 

Since reassuming his shortstop position, Anderson is batting .500 (10-for-20) which includes a first-pitch home run on Sunday that left the park before Red Sox fans could show ushers their tickets.  

 

That was Anderson’s 9th career leadoff home run, which tied his teammate Adam Eaton and Hall-of-Famer Tim Raines for the second-most leadoff bombs in White Sox history.

3. Mookie Betts

Mookie Betts is unquestionably the best Black player in the game and arguably the best all-around player. He finally finds his way into the #HighFive after missing some early action.  Betts has won four straight Gold Gloves in right field and he reminded the San Diego Padres that he’s Picasso with the web last Saturday night with a game-saving, diving catch with two runners on. 

 

 

Mookie’s highlight reel is one of the best you will see, and he always seems to come through in the biggest moments. The two-time World Series champ is a catalyst for the Dodger lineup and seems to be involved with every rally and run-scoring moment.  His average sits at .292 with a .914 OPS. and he was ready to put it into gear before suffering another setback. We are hoping he returns to the lineup quickly after being hit in the forearm by a 95 mph heater. 

 

4. Jazz Chisholm

Jazz is already a prominent face of Black baseball and that’s just as much a product of his multi-colored hair, Willie Mays -style baserunning and lightning-quick bat.  His captivating smile, speed, chains and euro-stepping across home plate following a home run,  gives life to the city of Miami and a young team that is constantly fighting for respect. 

 

 

Earlier this season he became the first player ever to hit a home run off of the best pitcher in baseball, Jacob Degrom, on an 0-2 pitch.  That ball actually just landed.

Jazz said during a recent interview that he texts former Yankee Legend and current Marlin owner Derick Jeter every day for tips on how to be a Hall of Famer. 

 

After getting to experience the playoffs last year this Miami team is hungry for more, and Jazz will need to be the guy to continue to mature to keep the fish afloat.

5. Jack Flaherty 

After a tough first start of the season, Flaherty has looked like the pitcher we all thought would be one of the best aces in the game.  In his last three starts, Flaherty has gone 17 innings giving up just 3 Earned Runs and striking out 17.  He has a 21:8 strikeout to walk ratio and during his last start became the fastest Cardinals pitcher in franchise history to reach 500 punchouts. 

The great John Smoltz gave him major props.

 

 

Expect Flaherty to remain on this list for a while.