By Matt McCarthy, 985TheSportsHub.com
Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts has been honored as the best player in baseball at his position for the 2019 season.
Bogaerts was named to the inaugural All-MLB First Team Tuesday, capping off a year in which he batted .309 with a career-high 33 home runs and 117 RBI. He put up a .939 OPS and won his third career Silver Slugger award, making him the most decorated offensive shortstop in Red Sox history.
Mookie Betts was named to the All-MLB Second Team. He hit .295 with 29 homers, 80 RBI, and a .915 OPS. Betts also won his fourth consecutive Gold Glove in right field, becoming the first Red Sox player since Dwight Evans to win four Gold Gloves in a row.
This marks the first year that Major League Baseball has named the All-MLB Team. The lists were determined by a combined fan and expert panel vote.
All-MLB First Team:
C: J.T. Realmuto, Phillies
1B: Pete Alonso, Mets
2B: DJ LeMahieu, Yankees
3B: Anthony Rendon, Nationals
SS: Xander Bogaerts, Red Sox
OF: Mike Trout, Angels
OF: Cody Bellinger, Dodgers
OF: Christian Yellich, Brewers
DH: Nelson Cruz, Twins
SP: Gerrit Cole, Astros
SP: Justin Verlander, Astros
SP: Jacob deGrom, Mets
SP: Max Scherzer, Nationals
SP: Stephen Strasburg, Nationals
RP: Kirby Yates, Padres
RP: Josh Hader, Brewers
All-MLB Second Team:
C: Yasmani Grandal, Brewers
1B: Freddie Freeman, Braves
2B: Jose Altuve, Astros
3B: Alex Bregman, Astros
SS: Marcus Semien, Athletics
OF: Ronald Acuna Jr., Braves
OF: Juan Soto, Nationals
OF: Mookie Betts, Red Sox
DH: Yordan Alvarez, Astros
SP: Zach Greinke, Diamondbacks/Astros
SP: Hyun-Jin Ryu, Dodgers
SP: Jack Flaherty, Cardinals
SP: Charlie Morton, Rays
SP: Mike Soroka, Braves
RP: Aroldis Chapman, Yankees
RP: Liam Hendriks, Athletics.
You can hear Matt McCarthy on 98.5 The Sports Hub's own Hardcore Baseball podcast and on various 98.5 The Sports Hub programs. Follow him on Twitter @MattMcCarthy985.