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MLB MVP ranking: Mookie Betts jumps out to an early season lead

By Adam Strangis

ANAHEIM, CA - APRIL 17: Mookie Betts
ANAHEIM, CA - APRIL 17: Mookie Betts /
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BOSTON, MA – APRIL 07: Mookie Betts #50 of the Boston Red Sox makes contact against the Boston Red Sox in the sixth inning at Fenway Park, on April 7, 2018, in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – APRIL 07: Mookie Betts #50 of the Boston Red Sox makes contact against the Boston Red Sox in the sixth inning at Fenway Park, on April 7, 2018, in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) /

1. Mookie Betts, Boston Red Sox

.347/.444/.693 with 6 HR and 14 RBI

If the season were to end today, it would be highly difficult to not give the A.L. MVP to the best player on the best team in baseball. Mookie Betts has been out of this world so far this year, putting to rest any small concern about him after a sub-par(by his standards) 2017 season. Betts is top 10 in batting average, on base percentage, OPS and home runs. The RBI total isn’t impressive but that’s what happens when you’re a leadoff hitter, typically.

The Red Sox have been a dominating offense and it helps when you add a big bat like J.D. Martinez in the off-season. They still have been without shortstop Xander Bogaerts for a significant chunk of the year and haven’t really missed a beat. Betts hasn’t been stealing bases yet but it’s hard to complain given who’s batting behind him. He’s taking more walks and he plays excellent defense. there isn’t much more you could ask for out of a baseball player than what Betts has been doing so far for the Red Sox.

Next: MLB: Top 30 leadoff hitters of all-time

It’s really going to be a lot of fun to see how the list evolves over the course of the season. Betts is the favorite right now but he has a ton of competition from out West. Can Betts fend off Trout for an entire season? Nobody has been able to match what Trout can do yet. For the National League, surely Bryce Harper, Kris Bryant and others have something left to say. We as baseball fans will just get to sit back and enjoy.

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