Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge aren’t the only Black Knights distinguishing themselves as elite MLB players. Look out for the following five players who will play important roles on their teams and will be among the top players at their respective positions.
Marcus Stroman, Toronto Blue Jays
Marcus Stroman | 2017 Blue Jays Highlights
Marcus Stroman 2017 Blue Jays Highlights ———————————————————————– Music: Had To – Kevin Gates ———————————————————————– Please like, comment, and share! Subscribe for More! https://www.youtube.com/baseballvault ———————————————————————– *I do not own any of the footage or audio in this , it belongs to the MLB, and the copyright owner of the song.
Toronto Blue Jays ace Marcus Stroman was carrying the torch for black pitching excellence before inflammation in his right shoulder left the start of his 2018 season in limbo. Stroman won 13 games and posted a 3.09 ERA across 201 innings last season, emerging as Toronto’s undisputed ace making 33 starts, finishing 8th in the AL Cy Young race and posting a 6.0 WAR.
Stroman made his made his regular season debut on Sunday against the Yankees. He pitched five innings, gave up four runs and struck out 8. Thats good news because Stroman is the No. 1 African-American pitcher in the game not named CC Sabathia or David Price and not knocking on the door of retirement.
Rob Friedman on Twitter
Marcus Stroman, Filthy 92mph Sinker Movement. https://t.co/kmftYCttkA
The Long Island-born Stroman, who helped Team USA win its first WBC Championship in 2017, is entering his age-27 season with electric stuff and as one of the best fielding pitchers in the game. Remaining healthy, elevating to Cy Young levels, and raising his durability so that he can be that reliable ace for the Toronto Blue Jays is his mission this season.
Is this the year he joins the Black Aces by winning 20 games and becoming the first African-American Cy Young winner since Price in 2012 and CC in 2007? The National League hasnt had an African-American Cy Young winner since Dwight Gooden in 1985.
Toronto Blue Jays on Twitter
First #GoldGlove Award? Earned! Congrats, @MStrooo6!
Andrew McCutchen, San Francisco Giants
McCutchen Posts Emotional Thank You Letter To Pittsburgh Pirates Fans
Former Pittsburgh Pirates star Andrew McCutchen is saying goodbye to Pittsburgh with an emotional letter to Pirates fans; KDKA’s Julie Grant reports.
The Pittsburgh Pirates dumped former NL MVP and franchise star outfielder Andrew McCutchen. For the first time in his career, one of the most popular and beloved players in the history of the franchise is playing for another National League squad in 2018.
During the offseason, The Black Knight from Fort Meade, Florida – who spent the first nine years of his career transforming Pittsburgh from MLB’s Saigon and the losingest franchise in pro sports into potent World Series title contenders – was traded to the San Francisco Giants for right-hander Kyle Crick, minor league outfielder Bryan Reynolds and $500,000 in international signing bonus allocation. Pittsburgh also pays $2.5 million in scratch to cover part of McCutchen’s $14.75 million salary.
Now he’s “West Coast Cutch.” He got a hit and helped San Fran win a 1-0 Opening Day pitchers duel with the Dodgers on Thursday. Many more where those came from.
The Players’ Tribune on Twitter
Andrew McCutchen, San Francisco Giant? I’m EXCITED about that.” https://t.co/0dwmPU66dp
It shouldnt come as a shock that the Pirates traded the face of their franchise and the player that captivated the city with his community work, solid character, leadership and grace. Ever since the Pirates missed their World Series window, which was from 2013-15, upper brass had been looking to unload salary, rid itself of high-priced aging players and start all over again.
McCutchen will be looking to prove he is far from washed and will get to face his former team several times this season.
Justin Upton, Los Angeles Angels
Los Angeles Angels, Justin Upton Agree To 5-Year Deal | SI Wire | Sports Illustrated
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have extended the remaining portion of Justin Upton’s contract, keeping him in L.A. for the next five seasons. Subscribe to http://po.st/SubscribeSI Follow the latest NFL news and highlights, with updates on your favorite team and players. Want to know what’s up with Russell Wilson, Cam Newton, Tom Brady and more?
One thing Justin has shown us throughout his career is that he is as streaky as a campus full of drunk, naked college kids, but once he gets rolling hes a dangerous bat. It took the second half of the 2016 season for him to live up to his six-year, $132.75 million deal he signed after the 2015 season.
Upton finished with a career-high 31 homers, but his 179 strikeouts still showed a deficiency in his game. The Tigers hoped for more consistency in 2017. The team stunk, but Upton progressed as a player. Upton played 125 games with Detroit before being traded in exchange for their No. 9 prospect, Grayson Long, and a player to be named later or cash.
FOX Sports West on Twitter
Justin Upton puts the @Angels back in the lead!! https://t.co/s4dHd6VcL7
J-Up bombed career-highs in homers (35) and RBIs (109) and slugged .540 in 2017 playing 125 games with Detroit and the final 27 with the LA Angels. He joins a potentially lethal lineup with Mike Trout and the aging but effective Albert Pujols in 2018.
George Springer, Houston Astros
George Springer slugs five World Series home runs to earn MVP honors
George Springer bashes his way to 2017 World Series MVP honors by becoming just the third player in history to hit five home runs in a single World Series Check out http://MLB.com/video for more! About MLB.com: Former Commissioner Allan H.
Black baseball excellence was on full display during the 2017 World Series and when the smoke cleared and the Houston Astros secured its first franchise title by defeating the Dodgers 5-1 in Game 7 on Wednesday night, Black Knight George Springer had risen above the pack and embraced the moment to capture the Willie Mays MVP Award, rightly named after the greatest center fielder of all-time and an African-American baseball king.
George Springer World Series Highlights
George Springer’s World Series Highlights World Series MVP All rights to the MLB
Springer hit .379 (11-for-29) with five home runs and seven RBIs. His eight extra-base hits were the most ever in a World Series, and he is the first player to homer in four straight games within a single World Series, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.
Springers power surge ties an all-time record set by Reggie Jackson for the Yankees in 1977 and matched by Chase Utley for the Phillies in 2009.
Jackie Bradley Jr., Boston Red Sox
Jackie Bradley Jr. Defensive Highlights 2017 (Boston Red Sox)
Bradley Jr. finished in 7th for defensive WAR out of CF’s. Jackie also had what will probably be the catch of the year which occured when he robbed Judge of a home run in deep center at Fenway.
Jackie Bradley Jr. is one of the three best defensive center fielders in baseball. Hes a human highlight film for the Boston Red Sox who regularly robs cats of homers with his sick leaping and timing ability and he does a hell of a spiderman impersonation as well. The 27-year-old took a step back offensively in 2017 dropping to just 17 homers and a .245 batting average after blasting 26 dingers and hitting .267 in 2016, but that can be attributed to being limited to 133 games due to injuries.
Jackie Bradley Jr. – Defensive Wizard
This video is about Jackie Bradley Jr.
Bradley Jr. suffered a right knee sprain in April that put him in a brace through May when he sprained his left thumb in August. Bradley Jr. isn’t one to make excuses, but expect a bounce-back season this year.
Yall know Im never gonna say anything about that. Its just not who I am, Bradley told NBC Sports Boston before accepting the Defensive Player of the Year award at the 79th annual Boston baseball writers awards dinner last month. But as a player, you just have to deal. Youre injured. But I felt at the time that I could still help the team out. So I was in a brace. I think once I got it off, it actually was feeling pretty good.”
The 2018 season is heating up and so are these Black Knights, so Keep an eye out.
