I had a brief moment of panic today when I realized Bobby Witt Jr, the player I'd chosen to be my MLBoyfriend, would be facing off against my Minnesota Twins today. Fortunately, he didn't do any damage--he did get 2 hits, but no runs or RBIs. So, I didn't have to snatch his crown away before he even got a chance to wear it.
Witt's stats from last week are very, very good. He had a .385 average and 1.356 OPS with 2 doubles, 4 home runs, 6 runs and 11 RBI.
If all that weren't enough to win my attention, Witt adorably sticks out his tongue while playing shortstop (which he is also very good at).
Congratulations, Bobby Witt Jr! You are my MLBoyfriend of the week.
Bobby Witt Jr. had a very good week at the plate last week. He had a whopping .450 average with 9 hits in 20 at bats--and an even more impressive .500 OPB. He had 1 home run, 4 RBI and 6 runs.
Witt also had 6 stolen bases last week--the most of any player in Major League Baseball. Since 2023 has been the season of stolen bases (due in large part to MLB rule changes), it seemed like I should get around to recognizing that stat in my pick.
I also don't recognize defense enough in selecting my MLBoyfriend mostly because the stats on it are hard to find on a week-to-week basis. However, Witt is excellent on defense and there's a strong case for him winning the Golden Glove this year.
Finally, flowing locks on a base runner is a good way to get my attention. Witt has a good flow going.
Congratulations, Bobby Witt Jr! You are my MLBoyfriend of the week.
PS: I'd like to give a shout out to this week's runner up for the MLBoyfriend prize, two-time past winner, Trea Turner. He also had a great week at the plate with 11 hits in 31 at bats for a .355 average with 2 doubles and 2 home runs. He scored 6 runs and batted in 5.
If I'm being honest, it wasn't his numbers that made me pay attention to Trea this past week, it was the Instagram algorithm. Posts about him kept showing up in my feed--even though I don't follow him or the Phillies. To be fair, they are pretty impressive stats.
My mother, Jane, passed away just a couple of weeks before the MLB season was supposed to begin. This Mothers Day, I'm missing her terribly, and I don't have her beloved sport of baseball to keep me company. So, in her honor, I'm crowning her all-time MLBoyfriend.
First, let's give some honorable mentions to some worthy candidates for the title of Mom's MLBoyfriend.
Minnesota Classic: Tony Oliva
Mom was born and raised in Minnesota. Although she moved (all the way to Iowa!) well before the MLB franchise came to the state, she always had a soft spot for the Twins. Growing up, I heard a lot about great Minnesota players including Rod Carew, Harmon Killebrew, and, Tony Oliva. Later, I was a little surprised to discover that Oliva is not a household name even among serious baseball fans.
Oliva played all 15 years of his career with the Twins, and for eight of them, he was one of the best hitters in baseball. He was the 1964 American League Rookie of the Year, won 4 AL batting titles, went to 8 All-Star Games, and ended up with some very respectable career stats, Oliva remains Twins royalty. Last year, at age 80, he went on a road trip with the team as a special bench coach.
The Pretty Boys: Trevor Plouffe & Eric Hosmer
Plouffe & Hosmer
Mom appreciated talented players, but she also liked a little eye candy on the field--the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. For example, Trevor Plouffe was a good player who had a few solid years with Minnesota....
....However, it wasn't his numbers that made him Mom's favorite Twins player in the early 2010s.
Mom started watching most of the Kansas City's games because that's the team the local sports channel carried. Eric Hosmer quickly became her favorite of the Royals. He had good stats...
....But he gave really good face.
I named Hosmer as my MLBoyfriend a few years ago, and I strongly urge you to read that post to find out how Mom revealed her crush on him to me in the funniest emails I've ever received from anyone. Seriously, click here and check it out.
The Slugger: David Ortiz
Mom and Dad co-owned a team in our family fantasy baseball league. She was mostly a silent partner, but she insisted that they draft David Ortiz every season he played. Even though many of us (including Dad) doubted the choice thinking he was bound to go into decline. Mom knew what she was doing though. He was an excellent hitter right up to the end of his career.
Mom was quick to remind you that she spotted Ortiz early--his rookie year when he was playing as "David Arias" in Minnesota. She never really forgave the Twins for trading him.
Mom's #1 MLBoyfriend: Roberto Clemente
I emailed my siblings asking for suggestions for a list of Mom's favorite baseball players. My brother John replied, "Doesn't that list begin and end with Roberto Clemente?"
More importantly, Roberto Clemente was one of the greatest people ever to play baseball. His biggest legacies are his advocacy for civil rights and his humanitarian work. He literally died serving others. He was on his way to deliver relief supplies to Nicaragua after a devastating earthquake when the small plane he was on crashed into the ocean.
Roberto Clemente holding a baseball clinic for low-income
children in Puerto Rico.
MLB's Roberto Clemente Award is given to the player who "best represents the game of baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field". If you want to know more about why Roberto Clemente was a hero both on and off the baseball field, check out this short video that pieces together clips from a variety of sources. (Thankfully, someone else has risked copyright infringement, so I didn't have to.)
An incredibly talented baseball player who fights for social and economic justice was totally Mom's perfect man. Apologies to her husband of 63 years, my father, but even he would tell you that Roberto Clemente was her all-time favorite. I know it's trivial compared to everything else, but it certainly didn't hurt that he was really handsome.
Congratulation, Roberto Clemente! You were Jane Hogan's All-Time #1 MLBoyfriend. Certainly, this must rank as one of the greatest honors of your career.
Good players on bad teams don't get enough love. Adalberto Mondesi is a very good player on a pretty bad team. Despite Mondesi's decent numbers, Kansas City currently had the second worst record in baseball. Headlines like this tell the story: "Mondesi heroics unable to overcome awful bullpen as Royals lose 5-4 in extras".
Mondesi put up some good stats last week batting .286 with a .998 OPS six runs, one home run, eight RBIs and three stolen bases. Speaking of stolen bases, Mondesi has the second most so far this season with 10--just one fewer than the leader, Tim Anderson of the Chicago White Sox. I know the value of stolen is questionable, but they sure are one of the most fun parts of baseball.
Eric Hosmer definitely had a MLBoyfriend worth week. He had a .393 batting average with a .914 OPS, one home run, eight runs, eight RBIs and two stolen bases.
Truth be told, I've just been waiting for Hosmer to have a great week for a while. I wanted to name him my MLBoyfriend, so that I would have an excuse to post an email exchange I had with my mother in May. She sent me a message titled, "Eric Hosmer" that simply read: "IS Eric gay? MOm". I replied: "I don't think so. Why do you ask?" Then, Mom slayed with her answer: "I have him in my dreams. MOm".
