The offseason of hardware has continued for Red Sox outfielder and 2018 World Series champion Mookie Betts.
With the greatest individual honor Betts could have taken home, too, as the 2018 American League’s Most Valuable Player.
In Betts’ fourth full season in the Majors, he led baseball with a .346 batting average, 129 runs and a .640 slugging percentage, and hammered 47 doubles and 32 home runs. Betts was also a demon on the basepaths, with 30 stolen bases. Betts also led the lead in WAR (wins above replacement), and had the highest WAR for any MVP since Barry Bonds in 2002.
Betts is also in historically good company, too, as he became the first American League talent to win the World Series, as well as MVP, Gold Glove, and Silver Slugger honors all in the same season.
Mookie Betts is the first American League player ever to win the World Series and earn MVP, Gold Glove, and Silver Slugger Awards in the same season. The only NL player ever to do that is Hall of Fame third baseman Mike Schmidt (1980, Phillies).
— Red Sox Notes (@SoxNotes) November 15, 2018
Red Sox manager Alex Cora, meanwhile, took to Twitter to congratulate Betts.
Proud of you @mookiebetts. #DamageDone #MVP
— Alex (@ac13alex) November 15, 2018
The honor makes Betts the first Red Sox player to win the A.L. MVP since Dustin Pedroia in 2008.