MLB Players Power Rankings (2): J.D. Martinez, Boston Red Sox
August Stats: 0.768 SLG | 0.495 wOBA | 212 wRC+ | 1.7 fWAR
J.D. Martinez and the Boston Red Sox offense are finally clicking on all cylinders, leaving the competition hoping that the defending champs don’t go on a run that sees them in the postseason this year.
Martinez’s offensive production spells good news for the Red Sox moving forward. It’s a foregone conclusion that Martinez won’t exercise his opt-out clause at the end of this season, so it’s best that the team has an elite hitter on their team over the next couple of years.
Martinez has been dealing with a back issue this season, which sidelined him for a number of games but never quite knocked him out altogether. Given how good he was in August, you’d have to think that Martinez is feeling like himself again.
With the Red Sox trailing the Cleveland Indians and the Tampa Bay Rays by 5.5 games (five in the loss column) for the Wild Card, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that Boston fights for a playoff berth. To stand a real chance and slug there way into a second consecutive World Series title, Martinez will have to keep this level of production going.
Can he do it?