While Tennessee does not have any MLB teams, the state has produced some legitimate baseball stars over the years.
We’ll look at the three best baseball players out of the Volunteer State.
Todd Helton
A player might not be more linked to his home state of Tennessee than Helton. The former Colorado Rockies first baseman was born in Knoxville and is a University of Tennessee legend. Sports fans may not realize that Helton played quarterback for the Volunteers and was on the football team at the same time that NFL Hall of Famer Peyton Manning was. The two have remained close over the years, as Manning attended Helton’s final MLB game.
Helton played in the big leagues for 17 seasons, all for the Rockies. He was known as one of the best pure hitters in the game, finishing with a career .316 batting average. Helton had notable power in the early portion of his career, but was a master at making contact and putting the ball in play. He won a batting title during the 2000 season, hitting .372 that year.
Helton’s greatness extended outside of the batter’s box. He was also a three-time Gold Glove first baseman, for which fellow Hall of Fame first baseman Jeff Bagwell gave Helton kudos.
Mookie Betts
While Helton is probably the best MLB player out of Tennessee, Betts may have that torch when all is said. He’s in the middle of a sensational career and has already racked up more individual and team achievements than Helton notched in his entire career.
Betts is a three-time World Series champion, an MVP, a six-time Gold Glove award winner, and won a batting title in 2018 when he hit .346. His versatility makes him special, as he’s played the outfield, second base, and shortstop extremely well. It’s hard to think of a player who has bounced around the diamond like Betts has without sacrificing defensive productivity.
The latest MLB lines have Betts’ Los Angeles Dodgers as favorites to win another World Series, and it would not be surprising if he adds more trophies to his resume shortly.
David Price
The pride of Murfreesboro was a pitching phenom at Vanderbilt University. The lefty seemed virtually untouchable during the prime of his college career and was also lauded for his leadership in the clubhouse.
Price came into MLB with a lot of hype, as the Tampa Bay Rays selected him first overall in the 2007 MLB Draft. He rewarded them with seven great seasons, including the 2012 campaign, when he won the American League Cy Young award. He pitched to a 2.56 ERA that season en route to winning 20 games.
The golden-armed pitcher would spend four seasons with the Boston Red Sox, two years with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Detroit Tigers, and one season with the Toronto Blue Jays. He won a championship with Boston in 2018.
By Chris Bates
