Tracking Mikey Bryant's Assault on the Record Books; Volume 6

This will be 6th year in a row we will continue to follow Mikey Bryant's rise on the career leaderboards.  The recently turned 35 year old is entering the twlight of his career as evidenced by a 4th straight year in decreasing statistics, but he was still good for a 5.0 WAR season last year.  2022 marked a decade for Bryant entreched in the middle of the Jersey Shore offensive assault and a third trip and third failure for Jersey Shore in the World Series.  Bryant for the 7th year of his career hit 37+ HR, had his 8th 200+ hit season and his 9th straight 100+ RBI season.

On the downside, his 147 strikeouts were a career high as well as his stolen bases, where he only managed to swipe 2 bags all season long.  His OPS of .932 was the 2nd lowest of his career, but only 1 point below that of what he put up for 2022.

Bryant's average of .322 was just 4 points below his career average and dropped him to only 2.2 points ahead of Adam Mason.  Paco Rosas raised his career average by almost 4 points and is just a shade below .340 for his career.  We do have a new comer to the list though, as Bill Wilson of Boston has enough career at bats to qualify and is your new leader at .3438.  Bryant who fell to 3rd in career OPS last year when Paco Rosas passed him, was passed this past season by teammate Dave Dodd.  Bryant sits in 4th place just a small fraction of current free agent Shumei Yokoyama.

Last season we saw Oliver Hernandez take over the career hits top position over Jason Jackson.  He will get number 2700 this year as he marches towards the first BSA player to achieve 3000.  With his 9th 200 hit season, Bryant he entered the Top 10 in all time hits with a tie for 9th with Manny Copriviza for 9th with 2024 hits.  He should pass John Crowe this year leaving Sam Sagar as the only retired player ahead of him on the list.  Bryant also had his 9th straight season with 30+ doubles which moved him into 25th place and a decent shot at hitting 400 this upcoming season, which would make him the 17th player to do so.  Bryant also finished the 2022 season 4th in total bases which put him solidly in 8th all time.  A good season will put him less than 100 shy of 4000, a number only achieved up to this point by Sam Sagar.

His 37 HR last year was enough to keep him in 8th place, but former teammated Matt Doyle is gaining on Mikey.  Sagar should be passed and current free agent Cade Delaney sits on 14 ahead of Bryant. 35 HR will get him to the 400 mark, currently the only two BSA players to make it that high are Crowe and Yoko.  Yoko enters the season 1 shy of tying Crowe for the all-time make, but is currently unsigned.  Mikey drove in 115 runs last year which was enough to pass Delaney.  Newell and Rivas sit in front of him, while Crowe and Sagar he would need 130+.

Another year, another productive one for Bryant who is showing gradual age, which in the BSA can be a rare thing.  While he is signed through 2023, his contract for 2024 is a big one with a team option.  Will this be the last year in Jersey for Bryant?  Will Jersey work out a deal to keep him here or accept the $26M option?  Time will tell.  Father time will be telling as well.  

Current All-Time Rank.  (Previous 5 years are in parenthesis)  

BA: 3rd (2nd, 2nd 2nd, 2nd, 1st): .3259

OPS: 4th (3rd, 2nd, 2nd, 2nd, 2nd): .9593

SLG: 2nd (1st, 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st): .5779

VORP: 8th (8th, 9th, 13th, 20th): 624.94 - apparently OOTP doesn't track anymore

Hits: 8th (14th, 27th. 34th, 57th, 96th): 2024

Doubles: 25th (29th, 42nd, 57th, 82nd, NR): 371
Triples: 15th (17th, 28th, 46th, 75th, NR): 51

Total Bases: 8th (11th, 14th, 23rd, 41st, 73rd): 3236

HR: 8th (8th, 10th, 15th, 20th, 35th): 365

RBI: 7th (8th, 9th, 19th, 32nd, 53rd): 1230

Runs: 11th (14th, 22nd, 28th, 55th, 86th): 1133

WAR: 6th (10th, 11th,13th, 18th, 24th): 62.28