WGL Sports Performer of the Day (7/12/16)
Kansas City Royals 1st Baseman Eric Hosmer (2016 All-Star Game MVP: 2-3, HR, 2 RBI)
For the fourth consecutive year, the American League All-Stars took down the National League All-Stars in the MLB All-Star Game, winning on Tuesday night by the score of 4-2, meaning the AL representative will once again get home field advantage in the World Series. The AL jumped out early with three runs in the second inning off of Giants’ ace Johnny Cueto and never looked back after that. Starting that early surge for the AL was Royals’ 1st baseman Eric Hosmer. He hit a solo homerun to give the AL a lead that it would never relinquish. Not only did he deliver the first run, but he also delivered the last, driving in Edwin Encarnacion courtesy of an RBI single in the 3rd inning. Those two early hits and RBI by Hosmer were enough to earn him the MVP of the 87th edition of the fall classic.
At 26 years old, Hosmer is just now starting to hit his prime and he leads a talented group of homegrown Royals that promise to be good for quite a while. He is the type of player who gives it 110% every play and always goes all out as if his career depends on it. As a first time All-Star and now the MVP (a.k.a. the player most responsible for giving the AL and possibly his Royals home field advantage in the World Series), it is great to see Hosmer getting the respect he deserves. After hitting .299 with 13 HR and 49 RBI in the first half of the season, he is on pace to put up the best offensive numbers of his career. His defense is another story: mediocre at best, but teams can get away with defensive liabilities at 1st base. If the Royals are able to defend their World Series title this October, expect Hosmer to play a huge part in that, but we could look back at his performance in the All-Star game as the moment that started it all.
