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MLB: 5 Leading Candidates for World Series MVP

By Brad Rowland

General view of the MLB Postseason logo in the dugout prior to the 2014 American League Wild Card playoff baseball game between the Kansas City Royals and the Oakland Athletics at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
General view of the MLB Postseason logo in the dugout prior to the 2014 American League Wild Card playoff baseball game between the Kansas City Royals and the Oakland Athletics at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /
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San Francisco Giants right fielder Hunter Pence (8) hits an single during the third inning against the St. Louis Cardinals in game four of the 2014 NLCS playoff baseball game at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
San Francisco Giants right fielder Hunter Pence (8) hits an single during the third inning against the St. Louis Cardinals in game four of the 2014 NLCS playoff baseball game at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Hunter Pence

Unfortunately for Giants fans, Hunter Pence has struggled mightily during the 2014 playoffs. The veteran outfielder has posted just a .256/.341/.333 slash line with no home runs in 44 postseason plate appearances, but on the more positive side, Pence is fully capable of exploding with the bat, as evidenced by his stellar production during two-plus seasons in San Francisco.

The 31-year-old Pence has exceeded 20 home runs in each of his two full seasons with the Giants, and with 35 total stolen bases across those two campaigns, it isn’t only the power that differentiates him. More than that, though, Pence is the type of player that can embody a “movement” of sorts, and with the Giants traditionally relying on off-field factors like “chemistry” in their roster building (for better or worse), it wouldn’t be a shock to see Hunter Pence explode over a seven-game sample.

In fairness, this is probably the least likely of the five players, but it is the World Series, and when players like David Eckstein and Mike Lowell have claimed MVP honors, the field is wide open.

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