MLB Awards: Week Eleven

The baseball season is nearing the halfway mark. All-Star voting is underway, and teams are readying themselves for the trade deadline. Our awards are into their eleventh week, so forget the All-Star updates for a while and take a peek at the really prestigious titles.

Performance of the Week

Mike Trout is incomprehensibly good at baseball. This is admittedly not breaking news. The Seattle Mariners know full well how good he is, but that doesn’t mean they could do anything about it as he crushed two homers.

The best player in the sport is on course to have the greatest individual season of all-time, yet he still seems an almost forgotten man.

Start of the Week

Julio Teheran had a magical return from injury against the Padres. The Braves’ right-hander twirled a superb six no-hit innings before being forced out of the game with cramp and a high pitch count.

Teheran needs to find consistency and health if the Braves are to be real contenders this year. His experience could prove invaluable amidst a youthful staff.

Defensive Play of the Week

This could easily become the Billy Hamilton award. The Reds’ centre fielder is possibly the best defender in the sport, and he pulled off yet another sensational outfield grab this week.

https://twitter.com/statcast/status/1008419455423131649

Hamilton could be on the move at the deadline, and would be a game-changing piece off the bench for a contender with his speed and gold glove defence.

Nightmare of the Week

Miguel Sano, who was an All-Star in 2017, was optioned to Fort Myers, the Twins’ high-A affiliate. This whole season has been a disappointment for the Twins, and the demise of Sano, along with Byron Buxton, has played a huge part in that.

There’s no denying Sano’s talent. Here’s hoping we see him back in the big leagues before long…