Andover's Mike Yastrzemski Ranks #8 In 2020 MVP Vote

ANDOVER, MA — Andover native Mike Yastrzemski ranked 8th in National League MVP voting, MLB recently announced.

The San Francisco Giant outfielder grew up in Andover and is the grandson of Red Sox legend Carl Yastrzemski.

He landed 8th in voting with a fourth place vote, three sixth place votes and a couple dozen seventh to 10th place votes. He scored 81 points, just behind Washington National Trea Turner with 83. Atlanta Brave Freddie Freeman won the MVP award with 28 out of 30 first place votes, beating former Red Sox star Mookie Betts.

Yastrzemski, a 29-year-old in his second year in the majors, put up strong numbers at the plate, batting .297 with 10 home runs and 35 runs batted in during the 60 game 2020 season. His advanced statistics were even more impressive: he ranked 6th in the National League in Wins Above Replacement with 2.5 and 8th in On-Base Plus Slugging with .968.

Yastrzemski played all three outfield positions in 2020, most often finding himself in right field.

It was a long road for a second Yastrzemski to follow the Hall of Famer Red Sox star to the big leagues. Yastrzemski's father, also named Mike, made it to AAA, one level away. He died young, at 44, not living to see his son play professionally.

Mike grew up in Andover and went to St. John's Preparatory School in Danvers and Vanderbilt University. He was drafted by the Red Sox in 2009, but didn't make it to the majors until 2019, and not for Boston. Carl, now 81, helped train him along the way.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.