Betts among 3 Dodgers with All-MLB honors
This browser does not support the video element.
LOS ANGELES -- Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts was named to the 2020 All-MLB First Team, which was announced on MLB Network on Wednesday.
Shortstop Corey Seager and starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw were named to the All-MLB Second Team. Seager finished behind the Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr., while Kershaw couldn’t break into the First Team rotation comprised of the Reds' Trevor Bauer, the Mets' Jacob deGrom, the Cubs' Yu Darvish, the Indians' Shane Bieber and the Braves' Max Fried. Third baseman Justin Turner, the other Dodgers finalist, was third at his position behind winner Manny Machado of the Padres and runner-up José Ramírez of the Indians.
Betts, who was acquired from the Red Sox in a blockbuster trade just before Spring Training, proved to be the missing piece of the Dodgers' puzzle, helping lead them to their first World Series championship in 32 years. He was the runner-up for the National League MVP Award to the Braves' Freddie Freeman, led the NL in WAR, won his fifth career Gold Glove Award and his fourth career Silver Slugger Award.
The 28-year-old Betts brought all five tools, impacted outcomes in ways not even imaginable and made every player around him better. While some stars crumble in new surroundings after blockbuster trades and landmark contracts, Betts somehow exceeded sky-high expectations.
Betts ranked among NL leaders in hits (64, tied for 10th), runs (47, fourth), batting average (.292, 16th), on-base percentage (.366, 17th), slugging percentage (.562, 13th), stolen bases (10, tied for fifth) and home runs (16, tied for third). He went 18-for-41 (.439) with runners in scoring position, the third-best mark in the Majors, and was at his best late in games, posting a .343/.370/.643 slash line from the seventh inning and later.
Betts had a .302/.383/.570 slash line out of the leadoff spot, and when he batted first, the Dodgers went 33-9. They went 31-5 when Betts scored a run. On Aug. 13, he hit three home runs against the Padres, joining Hall of Famer Johnny Mize and Sammy Sosa as the only players in MLB history with six career three-homer games.
This browser does not support the video element.
Defensively, Betts was spectacular, making difficult catches look easy, showing off his power arm when runners dared him and cutting off balls to prevent extra bases. He finished second in the NL in defensive runs saved. Perhaps his greatest baseball skill is baserunning, and not just stealing bases, but his instinctive ability to advance on balls in the dirt, contact plays and fielders’ missteps.
Tatis won at shortstop despite Seager having a higher OPS during the regular season and winning the MVP Awards in the World Series and the NL Championship Series. Tatis, however, finished fourth in NL MVP voting, while Seager was ninth.
The All-MLB selection process started in early November, with 50% of the vote coming from fans and 50% coming from a panel of experts.