After due deliberation, the Editors of FenwayNation have named
Craig Kimbrel as this year's
First-Half Red Sox MVP. It was a very tough decision, as many players made a strong case for the honor. Most notably,
Chris Sale,
Mookie Betts,
Jackie Bradley, Jr. and
Xander Bogaerts all could have been named MVP. However, Kimbrel's numbers are so overwhelming, he had to be our choice. Consider the following pre-All-Star Break facts:
1.19 ERA,
23 saves,
16.25 strikeouts per nine innings,
13.60 strikeout to walk ratio,
just 14 hits allowed in 37.2 innings pitched. And perhaps the most astounding stat of all is this:
Kimbrel has faced 134 batters so far in 2017—and he has struck out 68 of them (that's 51%!). Congratulations, Craig, on being named
The FenwayNation 2017 First-Half Red Sox MVP.
(Photo credit: USAToday Sports)
