By Anthony Cardone
Major League Baseball is about two weeks in, and some players have helped impact their teams in huge ways. We’ve seen some ridiculous statistics from the guys around the league so far. But who’s been the best?
Let’s start in the American League position players. José Altuve of the Houston Astros has been on a tear to start the year leading his club to a 11-5 record. Altuve hit .328, 7 HR and 13 RBI with 21 hits in his first 64 at bats. He hit a homerun for five straight days against the Yankees and the Mariners. He could be off running to another MVP award.
Mike Trout is always good. When is he not, he is hitting .406 with 5 HR, and 12 RBI. Could he be the first .400 hitter since Ted Williams?
Another guy who isn’t as popular is Domingo Santana of the Mariners. After a grand slam to kick off the season in Japan, Santana has hit .333 with 4 HR and 23 RBI, which leads the AL. He’s on pace for a huge year if he can keep it up.
One more guy that is up and coming is Tim Anderson of the White Sox. Anderson has the highest average in the league at .429. He has 3 HR and 10 RBI to go along with five stolen bases. The Sox sure are glad they locked him early with that 6-year deal.
For the American League pitchers most of them belong to the Tampa Bay Rays. Leading the AL East at 12-4. Their starting pitching ERA is under two,which is unheard of. It’s thanks to Blake Snell (last year’s AL Cy Young winner), Tyler Glasnow and Charlie Morton. Snell is 2-1 with a 2.16 ERA and is tied for the league in strikeouts with 36. Glasnow has an incredible 0.53 ERA in his first year with the Rays and Morton is 2-0, 2.18 ERA and 25 K. No rotation is close to them.
One more guy off to a fast start is Matt Shoemaker of the Blue Jays, who has a surprising 3-0, 0.92 ERA and 19 K in his first season with Toronto.
For the National League one guy stands out, and its Dodgers outfielder Cody Bellinger. Bellinger is knocking the cover off the ball hitting an NL best .424, 9 HR and 23 RBI. Basically the triple crown so far. Other hot starts are Anthony Rendon in his “walk year” hitting .400 and Mets Rookie Pete Alonso with .345 avg, 6 HR and 17 RBI.
The pitchers who stand out so far are Luis Castillo of the Reds with a 0.92 ERA and 25 K, Joe Musgrove of the Pirates, who hasn’t given up a run yet, and the closer for the Padres, Kirby Yates, who leads the league in saves with 9 of the first 11 wins for the Padres.
Now these stats won’t stay like this, and everyone gets in a slump, but some of these guys have started this season with a band, and we could see some history this season if it stays like this.
