Who Is The Face Of MLB?

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Major League Baseball (MLB) has provided America and Canada with enjoyment over the past 146 years, as the sport we know as baseball today was founded in 1869. The history that grows within a league, such as the MLB, is capable of creating memories and legacies for the future to withhold. Although MLB’s history is rich in statistics and legacies already, there is always more to expect, especially with the style of game changing consistently.

Today’s modern form of baseball is still baseball, but contains a variety of different aspects if it were to be compared to years prior. When looking back on history, you look at the all-time greats, such as, Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, and potentially, the player who broke the color barrier, Jackie Robinson. Looking towards the present, and future, names such as Mike Trout, Buster Posey, and Clayton Kershaw come to mind when discussing potential all-time greats, in reference to our modern period of time. In essence, it is a hand full to judge a player and predict a Hall of Fame type career, but with the consistency a player provides, there may be room to see higher expectations from an individual. In our modern-era of baseball, who is the face of  MLB?

To be fair, there is no right answer to the curious question, everyone is entitled to their opinion.

Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants

Flashback to 2010, Buster Posey and the San Francisco Giants had created a victory to name themselves World Champions, their last coming in 1954. Posey would contribute to the Giants in phenomenal fashion, winning the World Series and Rookie of the Year award in his first full season.

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Throughout Posey’s next season, the injuries would tack on: Posey would only play in 45 games. It what seemed like a Giants trend, Posey would bounce back and crown the Giants as World Champions in 2012, yet again. In 2012, Posey would earn the National League’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, as well as a silver slugger.

On the even numbered year, this one being 2014, the Giants would once again be crowned World Champions, three times in the previous five years.

Posey’s accolades, including batting titles, silver sluggers, All-Star appearances, and World Series wins over the years have sufficed enough to provide fans around the league with a potential to be the face of MLB.

Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers

Dominance. Clayton Kershaw’s eight-year career is immaculate as it is already, yet he is still 27 years of age. Kershaw holds a career 2.51 earned run average (ERA), and 99 wins as a lifelong Dodger. In the previous season, Kershaw went to set records and break existing ones as well. Kershaw held a .875 winning percentage, losing only three games and winning a whopping 21 in 2014.

In addition, Kershaw would be named the winner of the Cy Young award, as well as the NL MVP. As previously stated, when mentioning what makes a quality starter in the MLB, the sure answer, for most, would be dominance. Having a consistent starter could almost guarantee a win, to a certain extent.

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The Dodgers have been a force throughout the MLB, but in the postseason the fans have seen a new perspective to Kershaw. In the 2014 postseason, Kershaw held a 7.82 ERA and a 1.105 WHIP. This seemed familiar for Kershaw and context to his postseason career. In the 2009 postseason, Kershaw pitched two games; of those two games, he held a 9.45 ERA and 1.650 WHIP. In addition, in the 2013 post season, Kershaw pitched in two games as well; somewhat familiar, Kershaw held a 6.30 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP.

Although Kershaw’s postseason resume is mediocre, so far, he remains one of the most, if not the most, dominant pitcher in the entirety of the league.

Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

In 2011, I recall myself sitting on the couch anticipating a baseball game to be on, nothing specific. Flipping through the various channels and landing on ESPN to see the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim playing against the Seattle Mariners. Presumably, I felt content, but there was far more excitement stored as the program continued. The pregame was wrapping up and at that moment I noticed that a player would be making their professional debut; his name was Mike Trout.

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At the time, I had minimal knowledge of who he was or who he would become. Having minimal information on Trout, at the time, held a mysterious type of demeanor to the aspect of his debut for an individual, such as myself. The excitement was not for who he would become, but for the reason that an individual, such as I, genuinely enjoy seeing younger players in their debut.

Trout would go on and achieve a variety of spectacular achievements despite it being his fifth year in the league, as well as him being 23-years-old. In Trout’s first three seasons, he would go on and win three silver sluggers, have three All-Star appearances, become the 2012 stolen base champion, win the 2012 Rookie of the Year award, and be crowned the American League (AL) MVP in 2014; Trout was also the runner up to the AL MVP award twice in 2012 and 2013.

The Face of the MLB is…

As stated earlier, there is certainly no correct answer, but in terms of statistics, age, and track record, an individual, such as myself, can state with confidence that Angels’ Mike Trout is currently the Face of MLB.

*All statistics have been hyper linked to Baseball-Reference.com.

Please comment below who you believe in the face of MLB.