The Boston Red Sox are well represented on MLB.com’s latest American League MVP poll despite their ongoing struggles.
MLB.com put together an MVP poll, with votes from its writers, and two Red Sox players received well-deserved recognition.
Rafael Devers came in at No. 5 on the list for his incredible season.
“While the Red Sox are in a nosedive, Devers just continues to hit,” MLB.com’s Manny Randhawa wrote Thursday. “Following a red-hot May in which he posted a 1.133 OPS with eight homers, he’s cooled off a bit — but “cooling off” for Devers is still hot, as he hit .300/.327/.660 in July before missing time due to a right hamstring injury. In his return to the lineup Tuesday, he went 2-for-4 with a double and his 23rd home run of the season.”
Devers is hitting .322 with 54 extra-base hits, 59 RBIs and a .980 OPS through 90 games. He ended 2021 with an 11th-place MVP finish and is on track to far exceed that placement in 2022.
While the list stopped at No. 5, Xander Bogaerts was listed in the category of “other players that received votes” (along with eight others).
Bogey is hitting .309 with 37 extra-base hits (including nine home runs), 46 RBIs and an .838 OPS in 102 games, to go along with improved defensive play in his age-29 season.
The players who ranked above the Red Sox power duo were New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge, Los Angeles Angels two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani, Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Álvarez and Cleveland Guardians third baseman José Ramírez, in that respective order.
Devers started at third base over Ramírez in the MLB All-Star Game, but the 25-year-old’s aforementioned hamstring injury allowed his peer at the hot corner to surpass him statistically.
