Top 10 MLB Players – July 2019

Top 10 MLB Players with the highest social interactions among fans

Every July in the baseball world ends with a flurry of trades caused by MLB’s July 31st trade deadline, the last chance for teams to make major changes to their rosters until the season ends. Trades are scattered throughout the month, but the largest volume of trades comes on the 31st. This year was no different, with 23 total trades that day leading to 64 different players changing organizations. No one in July’s top ten was counted among that 64, though two did change teams earlier in the month. Marcus Stroman was traded to the New York Mets on the 28th and Trevor Bauer was traded to the Cincinnati Reds on the 30th. 

Marcus Stroman, New York Mets Starting Pitcher, Finishes Second

Marcus Stroman has not been shy in expressing his wishes to play in New York. While chatting with reporters in New York during the Blue Jays’ series against the Yankees at the end of June, he strongly suggested he’d love to play for a team in New York, pointing to his childhood growing up in Long Island. Between his comments and the Blue Jays’ looking like they’d be sellers, many experts pegged Stroman as an impending Yankee. By the end of July, Stroman did find himself playing for a New York team. Though to the surprise of many, that team was the Mets.

Stroman’s first tweet following the trade announcement on the 28th, a simple “Toronto, I love you…forever!”, accumulated 94.5k interactions. That tweet received the most interactions he’s ever had on Twitter, beating second place by massive 43%. Later that day, he tweeted a more substantial goodbye to Toronto and shared a childhood picture while expressing his excitement to play for the Mets. Those three tweets all fall in his top five highest interaction tweets of all-time.

Before the trade, Marcus Stroman made his first career All-Star Game as the lone Toronto Blue Jays representative. Although he didn’t make an appearance in the game, he still very much enjoyed All-Star Week in Cleveland. He documented everything, from the flight to Cleveland, to supporting Blue Jays teammate Vlad Guerrero Jr., who was competing in the Home Run Derby, to walking the red carpet on gameday.

Francisco Lindor, Cleveland Indians Shortstop, Drops to Fourth

Joining Stroman (and fellow July top ten member Mike Trout) on the American League All-Star Team, Francisco Lindor was one of four players representing the host Cleveland Indians. His most popular post in July gained 56k interactions and came during All-Star Week, which was an Instagram photo with fellow Puerto Ricans Javier Baez, Alex Cora, and Daddy Yankee. Lindor also posted a video of his arrival to the All-Star Game and a thank you to the city of Cleveland for hosting. Lindor, a New Balance athlete, shared with his 610k followers his appreciation for the package of gear sent by New Balance for use during the All-Star Game festivities. 

Trevor Bauer, Cincinnati Reds Starting Pitcher, Jumps to Fifth

Another member of our top ten to be traded in July, Trevor Bauer changed teams but didn’t leave the state of Ohio, moving from Cleveland to the Cincinnati Reds. Although he did not post in the month of July following the trade, he had an eventful month regardless. Bauer garnered laughs on social media by sharing a video on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter which poked fun at himself regarding the one-sided streak he had with Minnesota Twins outfielder Max Kepler. Kepler hit a home run off Bauer in five straight at-bats before Bauer ended the streak by striking Kepler out. On the 28th, Bauer made headlines by throwing the baseball over the outfield wall in frustration upon his removal from a game he struggled in. The throw prompted an apology by Bauer which he shared on Facebook.

The Wrap Up

The majority of players involved in trades changed teams at the tail end of July, which means the bulk of follower gains via new fan bases won’t occur until August. Next month look for the top ten regulars Trevor Bauer, Yasiel Puig, and Marcus Stroman to see larger than usual increases in followers.

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Written by David Shevlin
David currently works as a Technical Product Expert with Hookit. He previously worked in the baseball industry, spending a year with Baseball Info Solutions and two years with the Chicago White Sox. He spends his free time playing and coaching volleyball, playing board games, discovering new music, and watching baseball, basketball, and golf.

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