CY Young: Garrett Crochet

This is obvious right? Feels obvious. Not only has he been far and away the best pitcher on the Red Sox, but he’s been one of the best pitchers in baseball. The Red Sox needed an ace in the worst way and landed one. Not to mention, he’s been pitching like a dominant ace and lived up to all the expectations set before him.

Crochet has pitched the most innings in the sport (129.1), while also leading the league in strikeouts (160). His 2.23 ERA is tied with Tarik Skubal as well. His stuff under the surface is just as dominant as what’s on the surface. Crochet has been everything you could ask for and gives the team a chance to win every time he takes the mound. He’s their CY Young winner and deservedly so.

Comeback Player of the Year: Trevor Story

The entire goal and sentiment towards Story was to just give the team a league average bat and stable defense. Well, that leaping play that puts Derek Jeter’s to shame he made against the Rays, showcases how good his defense has been. He was on pace to be the worst hitter in the month of May and things were gloomy. Once the calendar turned to June, the script flipped and for the better.

Story was hitting home runs, stealing bases, and being the stable veteran this team needs in the worst way possible. After suffering the brutal injury a year ago and not being on the field a ton during his contract, this feels nice to see him having the year hes having.

Most Improved Player: Ceddanne Rafaela

Yeah…this one is obvious. Rafaela easily wins this and by a wide mile. You know what you are getting in the field with his elite defense, which ranks in the 99th percentile. But the biggest thing would be his bat. If that takes a turn for the better, he will be in good shape.

Rafaela struggled with consistency to begin the year, but like Story the calendar flipped to June and he took off. He is pulling the ball more, changed his stance, and adjusted his swing (particularly the attack angle). He now has nearly matched his career high in home runs and everything under the surface is coming together. Not to mention, gave red Sox fans the moment of the year. Cant wait to see what he does in the second half of the season.

Biggest Disappointment: Tanner Houck

I hate that I have to type this out, but the reality is it’s been a disappointment. You want to root for Tanner Houck because the potential is there and the stuff is there. Heck, we saw him go to the All-Star game a year ago and we also went on to see him go from the fifth starter to the ace last season. This year, he’s been unpitchable.

He lost movement on his sweeper and lacks command. He’s had two of the worst starts ever in Red Sox history. He’s been hurt and on rehab assignment. The signs were there for Houck knowing it would be a regression but it’s a bummer to not see him be the number two behind Crochet.

MVP: Alex Bregman

You can argue for Crochet, but I am going to go with Bregman. Before the injury, he was playing at an MVP level and was among those in that conversation. He was giving you good defense, but his MVP play goes off the field.

While being hurt, he’s been a mentor to the young guys. You always see him in between Marcelo Mayer and Roman Anthony and that’s very valuable. Heck, his teammates value him as well. 

“It’s like in a movie theater, ‘You’re like shut up, Bregman is talking, let’s hear what he has to say,’” Jarren Duran said.

“He’s like a coach,” Marcelo Mayer said.

“I feel like he has eyes on everybody,” said Trevor Story.

Extend him and extend him Now if you are John Henry and Craig Breslow.