Sportsman of the Week Ending 8/25/2019

The baseball pennant race is heating up, and a new team is starting to look like a favorite.  Or at least a team that will be a tough out.  The Washington Nationals have been surging and find themselves with the third best record in the National League, good for the top Wild Card.  Led by Anthony Rendon, the Nationals offense hasn't missed a beat since the departure of free agent Bryce Harper.  The Nationals went 6-1 over the week all in road games, with Rendon notching a hit in all 7 games, going 14-29, with 2 HR, 6 R, and 7 RBI.  He suddenly finds himself in contention for a batting title and a 12 game hitting streak.  The Nationals let Harper walk away.  They may want to think about keeping the free agent to be Rendon in house.  But will it be after a deep playoff run?  Time will tell.  But Rendon will continue to be a tough out, and is the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 8/18/2019

One of the best young bats in Major League Baseball is almost forgot how young he is because he's already been around so long.  And won a World Series.  Rafael Devers of the Boston Red Sox is evolving into one of the elite hitters in the game and he's still just 22 years old.  His amazing 2019 campaign (in spite of nothing but disappointment around him for the Sox) is MVP worthy.  But this week was over the top.  He went 16-27, with 7 2B, 3 HR, 11 RBI, and even had a 6 hit game and 4 hit game.  That's an OPS near 2.000.  The Red Sox went 5-1, even beating the surging Indians 2 out of 3.  If the Sox have a playoff run in them, it'll be on the back of Devers.  He's our Sportsman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 8/11/2019

It seems like more than ever, young talent is emerging in Major League Baseball and setting new records.  This week he comes in the name of Aristides Aquino.  The Dominican Republic rookie was called up August 1 and has done nothing but mash since.  In the six games this week, he was 11-22, with 6 HR, with 8 R, 11 RBI while his Cincinnati Reds went 4-2.  His 8 HR in 11 games set a record, and his OPS is north of 1.200.  Will he keep it up?  No.  But is he yet another fun player to watch?  Absolutely.  As the Reds rebuild, Aquino is a big part of it, and he is the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 8/4/2019

The future is now.  Major League Baseball has a future generation that is mouth watering.  We got a taste of our Sportsman of the Week during the 2019 All Star Game Home Run Derby, and now Toronto Blue Jays 3B Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is doing it in real games.  The 20-year old phenom is settling into a star player role.  Vlad Jr. went .500, with 3 doubles, 3 HR, 11 RBI in just 6 games.  But more importantly, the Blue Jays are getting better and went 4-2 this week.  Vlad Jr. joins other baseball sons like Cavan Biggio and Bo Bichette and forming a core that will carry the Blue Jays to the top of the AL East sooner than later.  But Vlad is already here.  And he's only 20.  And is our Sportsman of the Week!