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Here’s why the Boston Red Sox can and probably will win it all

By Cody Rivera

BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 26: Mookie Betts #50 of the Boston Red Sox bats during the third inning of a game against the Baltimore Orioles on September 26, 2018 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 26: Mookie Betts #50 of the Boston Red Sox bats during the third inning of a game against the Baltimore Orioles on September 26, 2018 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 30: Mookie Betts #50 and J.D. Martinez #28 of the Boston Red Sox in action against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on June 30, 2018 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Red Sox defeated the Yankees 11-0. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 30: Mookie Betts #50 and J.D. Martinez #28 of the Boston Red Sox in action against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on June 30, 2018 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Red Sox defeated the Yankees 11-0. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

4. A pair of American League MVP candidates

The Red Sox have known for a few years now that Mookie Betts was on his way to becoming a special player in Major League Baseball. But did they know that he would become a top two or three player in the league, becoming an easy favorite for the American League MVP award at the age of 25?

Whether they knew it or not, Betts has done just that. This year he became just the second Red Sox player to join the 30-30 club, as he currently sits at 32 homers and 30 stolen bases. He and Cleveland’s Jose Ramirez were the only players in baseball to accomplish that feat this season, and the first players to pull it off in five years.

In addition to that, the two-time Gold Glove-winning Betts has remained an exceptional right fielder this season, even though he’s a natural infielder. There is literally nothing that the kid can’t do. Don’t be surprised to see him win the AL MVP award this year.

Meanwhile, Red Sox newcomer J.D. Martinez has been in the MVP-conversation this year as well. Right now, he’s second in home runs with 42, but he was in the top spot for months. Even though he was in the conversation, it was unlikely that Martinez was going to win the MVP due to the fact that he’s primarily a designated hitter.

But that doesn’t mean he didn’t deserve to be considered. The Red Sox lacked a pure power hitter after the retirement of David Ortiz in 2016, but Martinez came to town and quickly filled that void.

As the Red Sox prepare for a playoff run, you can bet that both Martinez and Betts will be right in the thick of things for this team.

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