MLB Awards Watch: Top 5 AL MVP candidates through July
By Josh Sippie
4. Mark Teixeira
Jul 24, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira (25) hits a single in the first inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
The Yankees first baseman was having a respectable year until he hit July. Now he is having a fantastic year.
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Tex put up 9 home runs and 19 RBIs in the month as well as 1.146 OPS and .333 batting average. Tex has always been one of the best first basemen in the game and he is reasserting his claim to that ‘throne’ yet again this season.
For the year, Tex has 28 home runs and 73 RBIs, the latter of which is second in the league, the former of which is third. His .954 OPS is fourth in the league as well. His .266 average leaves a bit to be desired, but everything else makes up for it.
Helping Tex’s cause is the fact that the Yankees are topping the AL East and as long as their first baseman is right in the middle of that lineup, he is going to remain at least in the conversation for AL MVP.
Next: Number 3