Pete Alonso is a perfect fit for the Red Sox
Longtime Red Sox outfielder Mike Greenwell has passed away at the age of 62 from medullary thyroid cancer.
Known for his sweet swing from the left side and gritty approach to playing the game, Greenwell was a key part of the Red Sox's postseason push in 1988, 1990, and 1995, while also contributing during the team's World Series run in 1986.
Other than a brief stint in Japan at the conclusion of his career, he exclusively played for the Red Sox, who took him in the third round of the 1982 MLB Draft. Greenwell would go on to play 12 seasons in the big leagues, totaling 1,269 MLB regular-season games and 17 more in the playoffs.
The outfielder's best season came in 1988 when he finished second to Jose Canseco for American League MVP, hitting .325 with a .946 OPS, 22 homers, and 119 RBI in 158 games. That year, Greenwell finished with a 7.5 WAR, the best of his career.
Other standout seasons for Greenwell included a 1987 campaign, in which he finished fourth in American League Rookie of the Year voting and 1993, when the man nicknamed "Gator" hit .315 with an .859 OPS.
Greenwell's final season with the Red Sox was in 1996, briefly attempting to extend his career in Japan before an foot injury ended his season after just seven games.
His post-playing career included a stint a hitting coach in the Reds' system, that saw him briefly serve as the big league's club hitting coach on an interim basis. Other ventures included racing trucks while also serving as a County Commissioner in his home state of Florida.