MLB Weekly Digest 9/25/17

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The last week in MLB was a team in the National League locking up a young catcher, a pitcher in the American League reaching a significant milestone and a club clinching a spot in the postseason.

Reds Sign Catcher Barnhart to Four-Year Extension

The Cincinnati Reds have signed catcher Tucker Barnhart to a four-year extension worth $16 million. The deal also includes a club option for the 2022 season.

Barnhart has had a solid year at the plate, as indicated by his .272 average with six home runs and 42 RBIs. The value he provides is not with his bat, but his skills behind the plate.

He is first in Major League Baseball with 22 defensive runs saved and has thrown out 31 would-be baserunners.

The Reds also like the way he handles young pitchers on the team. They’ve used nine rookie pitchers in 2017 and being able to manage a pitching staff is an essential component of becoming a complete catcher.

Reds general manager Dick Williams talked about the importance of keeping Barnhart with the team:

The #Reds and C @Tucker_Barnhart have agreed to terms on a 4-year contract extension through the 2021 season with a club option for 2022. pic.twitter.com/z2fLNZ0ETa

— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) September 22, 2017

Red Sox Sale Reaches Strikeout Milestone

Boston Red Sox pitcher Chris Sale struck out 13 batters in his last start against the Baltimore Orioles, which allowed him to arrive at a significant milestone of 300 K’s in the season.

He’s the first American League pitcher to fan 300 batters in a season since Pedro Martinez struck out 313 in 1999 with the Red Sox.

Sale has been striking out the opposition at an extremely high rate in 2017, and the other impressive part is that 191 of his 300 K’s have been on the road, which is the most by any pitcher away from home in at least 104 years, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today.

Chris Sale has now struck out 191 batters on the road this year, the most by any #MLB pitcher in at least 104 years.

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) September 21, 2017

Sale has been the ace in the rotation for the Red Sox in 2017, and they will lean on him to have success in October.

Diamondbacks Clinch Spot in Postseason Will Host NL Wild Card Game

The Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the Miami Marlins on Sunday, thanks to a walk-off single by outfielder J.D. Martinez.

This team is unbelievable! #OurSeason pic.twitter.com/QoVNTTcjyR

— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) September 24, 2017

This was their 42^nd comeback victory and 90^th win in 2017, but this win was unique.

The Diamondbacks clinched a spot in the postseason and will host the National League Wild Card Game October 4^th. It marks the first time since 2011 and the sixth time overall that the Diamondbacks are playing baseball in October.

For the 6th time in franchise history, your #Dbacks are #postseason bound! #OurSeason pic.twitter.com/XteQTnysko

— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) September 24, 2017

This has been a special season for the Diamondbacks, coming off a 2016 campaign, in which they lost 93 games.

They have a talented roster and will be a deadly team if they make it past the Wild Card Game.

J.D. IS UNREAL. IT’S A #WALKOFF!#DBACKSWIN!!! #OurSeason pic.twitter.com/Rr8TKKReG5

— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) September 24, 2017

About Post Author

Chris Lacey

Chris is a New Jersey native whose favorite sports team is the Arizona Diamondbacks. He previously attended Western New England College to study Sports Management. Chris has been following the Diamondbacks since he was 12. You can find him on Twitter at @aecanada12.

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