He won his first Gold Glove in 2007, and he's finally been selected as an All-Star in 2008.
Boston Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis may not get the credit he deserves, but he is quite possibly the best defensive first baseman in all of baseball.
Oh, and I forgot to mention he can swing the bat, as well.
As an eighth-round selection out of Cincinnati in 2001, Youkilis spent his first three seasons grooming his game into the best major league-ready it could possibly be. He has put together quite the season, following up an unforgettable postseason in 2007 that helped his team claim the World Series title.
When fans think of great defensive first basemen in the game today, Chicago Cubs' Derrek Lee and St. Louis Cardinals' Albert Pujols are the first to pop into many heads. But now Youkilis has made himself a household name with his play.
So much so, in fact, that "Youk", as he is known, went a record 190 games without committing an error. That's over an entire full baseball season's worth of games, which is absolutely incredible!
Although Youkilis finally started to get some recognition during the 2007 playoffs, his 2008 campaign has gained him the most exposure. He is hitting a cool .311 at the dish, accompanied by 13 HR and 53 RBI.
Those stats clearly show that Youkilis can hit for power, as well as finding the gaps on the diamond to reach base, something he has done at a .382 clip this year.
At a relatively cheap $3 million price tag, Youkilis is helping to bring down an astronomically high payroll while also playing legit ball.
comments (17) write a comment »
write a new comment
3 months ago
It's good to see Youkilis get the credit he deserves. He went from scrub to star over 3 years.
3 months ago
He is not overrated. Didnt he just make the All Star team?
from 3 months ago
Yes, that's why I said he was the most underrated...because he's not overrated.
3 months ago
I agree, Kevin Youkilis is the most overrated player in baseball.
Wait, what? Underrated?!
I'm sorry but Boston Red Sox and Underrated don't belong in the same sentence. A.) He is an all-star, so I dont know how much more credit he deserves. And B.) If he played for the Pirates, he wouldnt have over 50 RBIs, he wouldnt be scoring a ton of runs, he wouldn't have a great bat behind himg and a great bat in front of him... He'd just be Kevin Youkilis, that guy who plays for the Pirates. For example, I'd venture to say that Nate McClouth is as good or better than Youkilis, and I don't see him getting the credit he deserves.
from 3 months ago
First off, McLouth and Youkilis play two completely different positions. Second of all, yes he would get 50 RBIs on the Pirates! They have some formidable hitters in Bay, Nady, and McLouth, and he's hitting .311! C'mon now.
from 3 months ago
okay then, if I cant compare McClouth to Youk, then you must be saying that Kevin Youkilis is the most underrated 1st baseman that hits for a good average with decent power in a strong lineup? Okay, I can agree with that.
from 3 months ago
We will agree to disagree, I suppose.
from 3 months ago
Cant put all star and underrated in the same sentence, sorry.
Unless you are saying he is the best player in baseball, how can you say that he is the most underrated? Are you willing to say right now "Kevin Youkilis is the best player in baseball" ?
from 3 months ago
How are you going to say that, especially after this year. The All-Star nods have turned into a fan jokeshow. Varitek got in batting .217. All-Star nods just aren't the same anymore.
from 3 months ago
So youre saying that Youkilis being an all-star is a joke? Youre right, we should leave him off. Its a joke anyway.
Whether or not the All-Star game is a popularity contest, or Terry Francona just puts his own guys on there, doesn't matter. He's getting recognition. Im not saying Youkilis is a bad player, Im saying he's definitely not Underrated. Its not about performance, its about recognition.
from 3 months ago
Kenny, try this...if you had to name the best first basemen in the American League off the tip of your tongue, would Youkilis be first? would he even be second?
What I believe Ben is saying, and Kenny I do understand the point you are making, is that Youkilis plays the game so unassumingly, that he gets lost in the shuffle when you mention players like Pujols, Morneau, Howard.
While I agree all-star means it is tough to say he is underrated, I also believe the fans in Boston would have voted him there regardless of whether he is deserving or not.
Most people would say he is the 4th best hitter on his own team...Name the MVP from the Red Sox last year, and the answer is always Ortiz, or Beckett, or Papelbon....I would say Youk
from 3 months ago
Michael i appreciate your comments and I know what you are saying. Youkilis wouldnt get mentioned with those other 1st baseman because he is not as good as those 1st baseman. Its not that close. If thats what people, you and Ben, think, then yes, he is underrated. If you believe that. I am not going to sit here and argue about whether or not I agree, so if some people think that he's as good as Howard, Pujols, Morneau, then I'll say yes based on that hes "underrated"
3 months ago
Awesome article. You forgot to mention the best part about Youk: his incredible goatee.
It makes me swoon every time I see it, and yet also fills me with jealousy because I could never grow such an impressive specimen
from 3 months ago
Yeah, it's definitely quite the goatee! Thanks for the comment.
3 months ago
Great article I agree totally with you! The guy is without a doubt the most underrated player in MLB!
Alex, Youk's goatee is amazing! The boyfriend has one, it's not nearly as amazing as Youk's and I've pointed that out to him a time or ten. The boyfriend is now horribly jealous of Youk :)
from 3 months ago
Thanks for the nice praise! Glad you liked it!
2 months ago
You said the all star fan votes are a popularity contest, so its all about recognition. youk was voted an all star, so what does that say about his recognition. Plus like you guys mentioned earlier, you probably wouldnt name youk as the top 1st baseman in the league, maybe the second or third best, and yet hes noticed enough to be on a team of the BEST in the league
sounds like he's not underrated to me
write a new comment