Top ten American League players with the most home-runs in 2011 MLB regular season – Part 1
The biggest achievement for a batter in a Major League Baseball competition is considered his batting power, in terms of hits which go out of the park for a home-run. The 2011 MLB regular season has gone and the playoffs are on their way. There are many
batters who put their teams into some special wins, launching home-runs, sometimes a lead off and sometimes grand slams.
Leading the American League in home-runs, despite having Alex Rodriguez, Prince Fielder, Curtis Granderson and Adrian Beltre in competition, has always been an honour for a player. For a player, who has achieved this mark for the second straight year, it
is a source of vindication from criticism. Toronto Blue Jays’ Jose Bautista was criticised despite posting 54 home-runs in 2010, as experts associated his achievement with a fluke. However, leading the AL in back-to-back years has proved the quality of Bautista’s
hitting.
Bautista led the League, touching 43 home-runs in his 513 at-bats of 149 outings. Along with launching some valuable homers for the Blue Jays, the 30-year-old right-hander added 105 runs on 155 hits and managed his batting average to .302. Bautista defeated
his rivals not only in home-runs, but also clinched first place in walks (132), slugging average (.608) and OPS (1.056). Playing as right-fielder, Bautista also contributed with his defending and made some efforts that helped the pitchers in gaining their
wins.
The New York Yankees lost in the fifth and final outing of the AL Divisional Series by Detroit Tigers, but their way to the ALDS can easily be associated with the success of Curtis Granderson. The left-hand batter shined in almost every victory of the Yankees
with his perfect hitting power. 30-year-old hitter launched 42 home-runs off his 153 hits and also led the AL with his 136 runs. Granderson took 156 games and 583 at-bats to post his career best record. He also led the league with 119 RBIs.
Granderson was not alone to take the Yankees so far in the season, as his fellow veteran slugger Mark Teixeira was at his best this season. The 31-year-old first baseman hammered 39 homers over his 146 hits. He took 589 at-bats of 156 games to be able to
enter his name in top home-run launchers in the 2011 regular season. Teixeira was a major part of the Yankees’ batting power house this season and he proved his class in almost every game. His 111 RBIs are the fourth in the AL and he also scored 90 runs. His
presence was always the source of the ease for fellow batters.
Although the club was not able to perform even up to their average, the Baltimore Orioles’ had one player who performed different from his batting powerhouse. Right-hand third baseman, Mark Reynolds always looked higher than his club, with his powerful batting
performance. His club won only 63 outings, but he did not let this invade his momentum and launched 37 home-runs to secure the fourth position in the League.
The 28-year-old right-hand batter expressed full command over the bat and took 534 at-bats of 155 games to post his valuable homers for the club. His record also includes 84 runs over 118 hits and managed a .221 batting average.
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Continued in Part 2
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