Mookie Betts keeps making his case for American League MVP stronger.
The Boston Red Sox right fielder has been having a great season at the plate, and he emphasized that by collecting his 99th and 100th RBIs with a first-inning double against the Oakland Athletics on Saturday. The milestone means Betts hit the 30 home run, 100 RBI mark this season — he had exactly 30 homers going into Saturday’s game — and he’s only 23 years old.
Betts is the third Red Sox player to get 30 home runs and 100 RBIs before the age of 25, joining Jim Rice and Ted Williams (who did it three times). He’s also the second Boston player to do it this season after David Ortiz reached the mark on Aug. 24 against the Tampa Bay Rays. The last time the Red Sox had a pair of players with 30 home runs and 100 RBIs was 2006, when Ortiz and Manny Ramirez did it.
Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado (36 home runs, 117 RBIs) and Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion (36 home runs, 107 RBIs) are the only other players in Major League Baseball in the 30-100 club.
Thumbnail photo via Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports Images