Fansided

MLB awards watch: American League MVP race

By William Schneiderhan

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - APRIL 15: Joey Gallo #13 of the Texas Rangers gets high fives in the dugout after a solo home run in the third inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Globe Life Park in Arlington on April 15, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. All players are wearing the number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - APRIL 15: Joey Gallo #13 of the Texas Rangers gets high fives in the dugout after a solo home run in the third inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Globe Life Park in Arlington on April 15, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. All players are wearing the number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) /
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ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – APRIL 20: Austin Meadows #17 of the Tampa Bay Rays strikes out in the ninth inning against Ryan Brasier #70 of the Boston Red Sox at Tropicana Field on April 20, 2019 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – APRIL 20: Austin Meadows #17 of the Tampa Bay Rays strikes out in the ninth inning against Ryan Brasier #70 of the Boston Red Sox at Tropicana Field on April 20, 2019 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /

5. Austin Meadows, OF Tampa Bay Rays

.351 BA, 6 HR (T-13th), 19 RBI (8th), 1.097 OPS (5th) and 1.0 WAR(T-15).

The Tampa Bay Rays played well last year, but they were buried in the AL East due to the insane seasons the Red Sox and Yankees put together. This year, they have topped both of those clubs and currently lead the division.

If the Rays end up holding the division lead, or snag a Wild Card spot, they can thank the Pittsburgh Pirates. Why? Because the Pirates sent Tyler Glasnow, a Cy Young candidate, and Austin Meadows, an MVP candidate, down to Florida for Chris Archer last season.

Meadows has been a spark plug for the Rays. He has been hitting for power, and simply hitting the ball hard in general, as he has a hard-contact percentage of 48.2 so far this season.

The outfielder has been squaring the ball up well and he has also been avoiding a lot of soft contact. Therefore, he is getting ahold of the ball and ripping it around the diamond.

Meadows has also been taking his walks, which is often not the case with young, pull-happy players. His on-base percentage (OBP) is currently eighth in the AL at .422, and his slugging percentage of .676 is tied for fourth-best in the AL with Kansas City slugger Hunter Dozier.

Defensively, Meadows hasn’t been spectacular, but he also hasn’t been a liability. He is quickly becoming one of the key pieces to a team that could fight for a spot in the playoffs.

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