Young Athletes Shine Bright in the 2018 World Series

By Cintia Feliz 

The Boston Red Sox may have won the 2018 World Series, but let’s look back on some of the young players who helped contribute to Boston’s success.

Mookie Betts, who is 26-years-old, ended his 2018 season with a .346 batting average and .640 slugging percentage in which he led the majors this season and with a .438 on-base percentage, according to mlb.com. Betts went on to win the 2018 American League MLB batting title with his teammate, J.D. Martinez coming in second with a .330 batting average. 

“Yeah, it’s definitely an achievement,” Betts admitted to mlb.com. “I’m happy to take something like that, especially when only two people win it. It’s a blessing and I don’t take it for granted.”

Although Betts, did struggle to hit a home-run during the postseason, only with a batting average of .210, the Boston Red Sox star contributed to Boston’s World Series win on Sunday while hitting a home-run against Dodgers veteran pitcher, Clayton Kershaw. With the Red Sox having a 2-1 lead and nobody on base, Betts’ first playoff home-run came at a perfect time. It is likely Betts should win the American League MVP in November. If he does, he will be the first Red Sox player to win an AL MVP Award and World Series Championship at the same time.

The youngest player on Boston’s 2018 World Series Championship roster was Rafael Devers, who recently turned 22 on October 24. Reminds you of anyone? … Maybe of Devers’s teammate, Xander Bogaerts, who was only 21-years-old when he won the World Series back in 2013 with the Red Sox. 

Devers ended his 2018 season with 450 At-Bats, 108 Hits, 21 Home-runs, 66 RBI, and a batting average of .240. Devers had many clutch moments that helped Boston move on throughout the postseason. During Game 5 against the Houston Astros, Devers hit a three-run homer that helped Boston with a 4-1 victory to clinch the American League title. On Saturday, during Game 4, Devers was able to get Manny Machado out during the ninth-inning that would rob L.A. from a comeback rally. According to ESPN Stats & Info, Devers became the youngest player with a go-ahead RBI in 9th or later of a World Series games since Edgar Renteria’s walk-off single in game 7 of the 1997 World Series. 
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These two players are a few to watch out for this upcoming 2019 baseball season.