The MLB The Show Players League finished its season today, and a former Cy Young winner took home the inaugural championship.
MLB The Show Players League Final
Entering today, just two players remained in the Players League. One of those players was Rays LHP Blake Snell, who defeated Mets infielder Jeff McNeil in the semifinal. McNeil took the first game of the semifinal, but ‘Snellzilla’ took the final two games in the best-of-three series to move on to the Championship Round.
The other player who remained was White Sox RHP Lucas Giolito, who defeated Cubs infielder/outfielder Ian Happ in the semifinal. In a Windy City battle, Giolito took Game 1 of the semifinal, but the former Cincinnati Bearcat Ian Happ shut down the South Side fireballer in the second game by a score of 1-0. In the deciding third game, Giolito defeated Happ to move on to the final.
In the Championship Round today, the two pitchers squared off in the final, but it wasn’t much of a contest. Snell swept the best-of-five series to win the first-ever MLB The Show Players League Championship.
While the league may not have been able to replicate the atmosphere of a live baseball game, it was an opportunity for MLB to showcase the personalities of players, while giving those athletes a chance to compete in a competitive environment during this layoff.
“You’re competing against guys that are the same level as you, so it’s always a lot of fun,” Blake Snell said regarding the Players League. “Being able to do that and feel that gameday feel in a way, where you want to win so bad, that’s pretty amazing.”
MLB Players League Awards
MLB also announced award winners for the Players League, including which player was the most entertaining, and who was the best team manager.
Here are the awards for the MLB The Show 20 Players League:
- BEST PLAYER – Joey Gallo (Rangers)
- BEST TWITCH NAME – Bo Bichette (Blue Jays)
- BEST MANAGER – Dwight Smith Jr. (Orioles)
- MOST ENTERTAINING STREAMER – Brett Phillips (Royals)
- IN-GAME MVP – Aaron Hicks (Yankees, who were controlled by Tommy Kahnle)
- BEST REACTION – Rhys Hoskins (Phillies) and Cole Tucker (Pirates)
- BEST CAMEO – Joey Gallo (Rangers)