MLB.coms Michael Claire in his column In Short Order made a list of the best MLB player at each position.
“If aliens reached the planet and challenged us to a baseball game, with the winner getting to live on Earth, who do you pick?” Claire asked.
Claire had two Black Knights on the list — his corner outfielders Giancarlo Stanton and Mookie Betts. In a league where African-Americans comprise less than 8 percent of MLB rosters, they comprise 22 percent of this Earth-saving list and for that, I give kudos to Claire.
After a rocky start with the Yankees, Stanton has become the missile launcher that everyone expected when he flat left Miami and slid to The Big Apple to stack the deck with Aaron Judge.
Stanton’s walk-off caps 7-5 comeback victory: 6/20/18
Daily Recap: Gary Sanchez tied the game with a two-run HR in the 8th before Giancarlo Stanton hit his first Yankees walk-off HR in the 9th About Major League Baseball: Major League Baseball (MLB) is the most historic professional sports league in the United States and consists of 30 member clubs in the U.S.
Betts is a five-tool assassin with MVP written all over him.
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Breakthrough Series Boys out at the Big A!
Because of MLB diversity initiatives such as the MLB Breakthrough Series, we can expect to see more Black superstars like Stanton and Betts entering the league.
The MLB Draft reflects the rise in African-American prospects over the past half decade. Over the past five years, more than 20 percent of first-round picks have been black.
Major League Baseball’s Breakthrough Series is now 10 years old and the talent pool gets deeper and richer each season and the caliber of instructors keeps improving as well as former black stars flock to help cultivate Black baseball talent.
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Two-time All-Star Eric Davis clears up a hitting misconception. #BreakthroughSeries https://t.co/fA5QPaQPSZ
“They’re getting better and better,” longtime Breakthrough Series field coordinator Jerry Manuel told mlb.com. “The kids we have chosen to come, a lot of those kids have been drafted. That in itself is kind of an indication that we are doing things the right way.”
Over the past 10 years, the Breakthrough Series has produced several future Major League players, including two current Yankees in outfielder Aaron Hicks and catcher Kyle Higashioka, Cubs infielder Addison Russell, Mets outfielder Dominic Smith and White Sox pitcher Carlos Rodon.
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Lucas Duda trade launches the Dominic Smith era for the Mets: https://t.co/ouzDZ5lDPL
As many as five Breakthrough prospects have already signed college scholarships to perennial powers like Clemson and four different SEC schools. The experience they gain in just three days really opens their eyes and exposes them to elite talent from around the country.
“Talent-wise, I’ve seen some really good guys,” said Charles Johnson, a Breakthrough Series coach and former All-Star catcher…That’s what these Breakthrough Series mean — you can find diamonds in the rough, kids you didn’t know about, they can come here and get recognized.”
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Break out the lumber. #BreakthroughSeries
The Breakthrough Series exposes youngsters to the full Major League experience — insight into coaching, the front office, and even the media. Most of all, it offers many who can’t afford travel ball the opportunity to showcase their talents to guys who have played the game and coached it at a professional level.
