Tampa Bay Rays – Ben Zobrist (2011)
Another recent entry on the list is Ben Zobrist’s 2011 season for the Tampa Bay Rays, which makes sense since the Rays, along with the Arizona Diamondbacks, are the most recently-founded franchise in MLB. Though the club’s history dates back to only 1998, Tampa Bay has seen its fair share of exceptional seasons.
On the surface, Zobrist’s numbers perhaps don’t appear so impressive as to warrant the title of greatest individual season in franchise history. In 2011, he slashed just .269/.353/.469 with 46 doubles, 20 homers, 91 RBI and 19 stolen bases in his age 30 season. But his versatility, hitting all over the lineup and splitting time defensively between second base and right field, made him a uniquely valuable player, worth 8.7 bWAR.
The Rays won 91 games that season and made the postseason for the third time in four years largely due to the production of Zobrist, Evan Longoria and Melvin Upton, Jr. As he proved then, last season with the world champion Kansas City Royals, and again this season with the Chicago Cubs, Zobrist will do whatever it takes to help his team win. Even if it doesn’t always make for a shiny stat line, his contribution is the most valuable kind there is in the game.
Next: A Triple Crown.