The Los Angeles Dodgers are nominated for Best Team and Corey Seager is up for Best MLB Player in the 2021 ESPY awards. The ESPYS, which will be hosted by actor and producer Anthony Mackie, will air live on ABC on Saturday, July 10 at 5:00 p.m. PT.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFL), Stanford Cardinal (NCAA Women’s Basketball), Baylor Bears (NCAA Men’s Basketball), Alabama Crimson Tide (NCAA Football), Oklahoma Sooners (NCAA Softball) and Seattle Storm (WNBA) join the Dodgers as nominees for Best Team.
The Dodgers overcame unprecedented circumstances brought on by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic to post an MLB-best 43-17 record during the shortened 2020 season. L.A. then won a postseason-record 13 games to capture their first World Series championship since 1988.
Seager played a big part in helping the Dodgers realize their dream as he hit an excellent .307/.358/.585 with 15 home runs and 41 RBI during the regular season. He went on to enjoy a postseason for the ages, winning National League Championship Series and World Series MVP honors.
Seager batted an overall .328/.425/.746 with eight home runs and 20 RBI in 80 plate appearances across four playoff series (18 games). He got off to a modest start this season before fracturing his right hand in mid-May.
Also nominated for Best MLB Player are Trevor Bauer (presumably for his 2020 Cy Young Award season with the Cincinnati Reds), José Abreu and Shohei Ohtani.
Betts nominated for Best Play
Mookie Betts is also in the running for Best Play at the 2021 ESPYS, which will be decided in a bracket format. He was recognized for the double play he turned against the Pittsburgh Pirates last week that began with a shoestring catch in right field to take a hit away from Ka’ai Tom.
Betts then fired the ball to home plate and threw out Erik Gonzalez, helping keep the score tied at one apiece in the second inning. The play is going against Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf’s tackle of Budda Baker to save a touchdown in Match 4.
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