Moncada wins Futures Game MVP; Guess who the Last Red Sox was to do That?

(July 9, 2016 - Source: Harry How/Getty Images North America)
Evan Marinofsky
Contributing Writer

 Last night, Yoan Moncada took home the honor of Futures Game MVP after going 2-for-5 with a home run and 2 RBI.

All of us Red Sox fans are foaming at the mouth to see Moncada play in the big-leagues and winning MVP last night only aided in the bubbles spewing down on to our chins just to see this jacked-up Cuban swing a bat at Fenway.

Here's Moncada's moonshot that ultimately propelled him to Futures Game MVP.
Obviously Moncada winning the Futures Game MVP should have you excited because that automatically guarantees him MLB-success, right?

Wrong.

There is only one other Red Sox who ever won the award and I'll give you a hint at who it isn't: it's not Xander Bogaerts, Jackie Bradley Jr., Mookie Betts, Henry Owens, or even Eduardo Rodriguez.

It was Che-hsuan Lin. Did you guess it?
No, you didn't because you probably don't even know who that is.

Back in 2008, Lin played in the Futures Game and hit a two-run home run on the first pitch he saw. After finishing the game 2-for-2, he won the MVP award for the game. In 2011, Lin was promoted to Triple-A Pawtucket and in April of 2012, he was called up to replace the injured Jacoby Ellsbury. In October of 2012, the Sox designated Lin for assignment and he was quickly picked up off of waivers by the Houston Astros.

(May 20, 2012 - Source: Greg Fiume/Getty Images North America)
On December 15, 2013, Lin signed a minor league deal with the Texas Rangers to be a pitcher. After being released at the end of 2014, Lin concluded his playing career in North America. Lin finished his MLB career with 3 hits in 12 at-bats which equals out to a (hold up, let me do the math) .250 batting average: not too shabby.

Of course I'm kidding. For a guy who was ranked eighth on the Red Sox prospect list in 2008, I'd call that a bust. But again, just my opinion. Maybe "Linsanity" was just never meant to be here in Boston -- or in North America for that matter.

Lin's horrible MLB career shouldn't take away from what Moncada could end up being because I mean come on: look at Moncada!
But if the Lin-example does anything, it should bring you back down to Earth on what the Futures Game MVP really means. There have been plenty of busts who've won this same award, which should prove as an indicator that this doesn't make Moncada's future success anymore guaranteed than it was before.

Sorry to kill the vibe like this, guys.

Follow Evan Marinofsky on Twitter for all of his Red Sox opinions. It's worth the follow. 

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