Three Greenville Drive alums were recently recognized by Major League Baseball with Rawlings Gold Glove Awards.
Two-thirds of the Boston Red Sox outfield received Gold Glove honors. Mookie Betts (2013 alum) won his third straight Gold Glove award for American League right fielders. Jackie Bradley, Jr. (2011 alum) is the Gold Glove winner for American League center fielders, and despite his stellar defensive reputation, this is his first Gold Glove award.
Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo (2008-09 alum) finished in a tie with Freddie Freeman of the Atlanta Braves for the National League first baseman Gold Glove award. This is Rizzo’s second Gold Glove.
In addition to those awards, Greenville Drive fans who watched the World Series saw many familiar faces right in the middle of the postseason action, as nine Drive alums saw time in the postseason. The talented outfield of Jackie Bradley, Jr. (2011), Mookie Betts (2013), and Andrew Benintendi (2015) continued their excellence into the postseason. Bradley, Jr. was named the MVP of the ALCS victory over the Houston Astros after hitting two homers and driving in nine runs in the series.
Betts hit a big solo home run in the World Series clinching victory in Los Angeles.
Benintendi went 6-18 in the World Series, including a 4-5 night with three runs in a game 1 victory in Boston.
Shortstop Xander Bogaerts (2011) started every game of the postseason, and he homered in the ALDS victory over the New York Yankees.
Third baseman Rafael Devers (2015) came up big several times in the postseason, including a three-run homer in the ALCS clincher in Houston and a go-ahead RBI single in the ninth inning of game four of the World Series in Los Angeles.
Catcher Christian Vazquez (2010-11) homered in the ALDS against New York, and he was the catcher of the final strikeout of the World Series game five win.
Catcher Blake Swihart (2012) saw action in three games in the postseason.
Pitcher Matt Barnes (2012) made 10 appearances in the postseason, and he got the win in game one of the World Series after throwing a scoreless inning of relief.
Pitcher Brandon Workman (2011) made three appearances on the mound between the ALDS and ALCS.
Visit www.milb.com/greenville for additional information on the Greenville Drive’s continued excellence.