Oakland Athletics: The Surprise 2019 AL MVP Candidate
As the Oakland Athletics look to clinch the Wild Card game, win it, and go on a run in October, none of this would be possible without Marcus Semien.
Marcus Semien has been a sufficient leadoff hitter for the Oakland Athletics. He has done an excellent job sparking the Oakland lineup by adding power to the top of the order. He leads his team in runs scored.
The unlikely American League most valuable player candidate had a career year in 2019. Through 156 games, Semien has 32 home runs, 91 RBI, 42 doubles, 120 runs scored and is batting .287. The 28-year-old made tremendous strides this season, setting career-highs in all those categories.
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As well as reaching personal bests, he ranks third in the American League in WAR with a 7.7, only behind Mike Trout and Alex Bregman.
Between his power at the plate and his overall ability in the field, he has proven that he has the potential to perform like a top-five shortstop in the majors.
Semien has never appeared on MVP ballots before in his career. He has been beyond valuable for the A’s. On pace to play in nearly every game, he has been the most consistent bat in their lineup, as well as elite in the field.
He heads into the offseason looking to profit from his impressive 2019. In his final year of arbitration, Semien might be looking to sign an extension, or he may prefer to sign a one-year deal and bet on himself to have a big 2020 season before hitting free agency.
As of September 24th, the Oakland Athletics are 94-24, second in the American League West division and currently 1.5 games up on the Tampa Bay Rays for the first Wild Card spot. The A’s look to finish their season strong and look for a different outcome to last year’s Wild Card game, where they lost to the New York Yankees.
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Semien and the rest of Oakland’s lineup hope to capitalize off their impressive regular seasons and translate their success into the playoffs.