Wil Myers was the sleeper pick for NL MVP by a plethora of baseball dudes across the MLB media landscape. While his defensive skills still leave something to be desired, he could always swing that lumber since his Rookie of the Year season with the Tampa Rays in 2013.
The reason why the Padres deal with it and gave Myers a six-year $83 million deal was on full display on Monday night as he singled in the first, doubled in the third and homered in the sixth and then completed the cycle with a mad, stumbling dash for a triple to help the Padres beat the Colorado Rockies 4-3. It was the franchises third win in four games. Myers became the first MLB player of the 2017 season to hit for the coveted and rare cycle.
.@wilmyers races toward history. #Cyclepic.twitter.com/1YFmw2PtUQ
MLB (@MLB) April 11, 2017
Matt Kemp had the only other cycle in San Diego history on Aug. 14, 2015, also at Coors Field.
Meyers also leads MLB in hits (13), At-bats (34), and Total Bases (27) through the first eight games of this season. Myers has the curse and the gift. A lethal bat and no true position until he basically became the boom-or-bust right fielder for San Diego.
Back when Myers was drafted by the Kansas City Royals out of North Carolina Wesleyan Christian Academy in 2009, he was listed as a catcher.
In 2011, the organization moved him and he tried all three outfield positions. After the season, he tried 3B while still playing some outfield.
In 2013, he went to the Rays and they made him the permanent right fielder. Since then he has also played first base and centerfield for the Padres, but right field seems to be his most comfortable spot.
Yes, Myers is the definition of a hitter and unless he plays DH in the American League, you have to bear with him being in the field. With last season’s 28 homers and 94 RBI plus this season’s fast start, he’s making it worth it.
