Max Kepler, Nolan Arenado named W.B. Mason Players of the Week
Outfielder Max Kepler of the surging Minnesota Twins has been named the W.B. Mason American League Player of the Week, and All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado of the Colorado Rockies has been named the W.B. Mason National League Player of the Week. The announcements were made earlier today on MLB Network.
Kepler, a product of the MLB European Elite Camp, claimed his second career AL Player of the Week Award, previously accomplishing the feat for the period ending August 7, 2016, and is the second Twins player this season to earn weekly honors (also: Jake Odorizzi, May 6th). Arenado claimed his sixth NL Player of the Week Award, and his first since June 24th of last season. Nolan has now matched Dante Bichette and Todd Helton for the most weekly awards by a player in franchise history.
In recognition of their Player of the Week Awards, Max Kepler and Nolan Arenado will each be awarded a specially engraved watch courtesy of Artinian.
Max Kepler, Minnesota Twins (@kepleroni)
- Posted a slash line of .571/.600/1.190 with 10 runs scored, 12 hits, four doubles, three home runs, 10 RBI, three walks and a stolen base across five games played.
- Among AL leaders, finished the week first in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, runs scored and extra-base hits (7); tied for first in RBI; and tied for second in doubles and hits.
- The Berlin-born Kepler enters play today in the midst of a nine-game hitting streak dating back to May 16th, leading the Twins to eight wins during his torrid stretch.
- Has also logged multi-hit efforts in each of his last six contests dating back to May 20th, becoming the first Twins player to post a streak of at least six such games since Justin Morneau in 2010 (June 19th-25th).
- Homered in three consecutive games from May 23rd-26th, and enters action today with 12 round-trippers on the season.
Nolan Arenado, Colorado Rockies
- Batted .538 (14-for-26) with seven runs scored, two doubles, four home runs, nine RBI, a walk and a 1.077 slugging percentage over six games played.
- Finished first in home runs, total bases (28) and slugging percentage; tied for first in hits; second in batting average; tied for second in extra-base hits (6); and tied for third in RBI among NL hitters.
- Clubbed his 200th career home run in his 925th career game on Saturday. Became the fourth-fastest third baseman in Major League history to reach the milestone, trailing only Hall of Famer Eddie Mathews (779), Bob Horner (882) and Troy Glaus (903).
- Recorded his seventh consecutive multi-hit game yesterday against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Became just the fourth player in franchise history to post a streak of seven-or-more such games, joining Blake Street Bombers Andres Galarraga (July 23-29, 1996), Larry Walker (June 15-22, 2002) and Vinny Castilla (August 11-16, 1999).
Other noteworthy AL performances last week included third baseman Rafael Devers (.481, 8 R, 4 HR, 8 RBI) of the Boston Red Sox; starting pitcher Brad Peacock (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 11.0 IP, 17 SO) of the Houston Astros; first baseman/designated hitter Renato Núñez (.400, 8 R, 5 HR, 10 RBI) of the Baltimore Orioles; starter Lucas Giolito (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 CG SHO, 9 SO) of the Chicago White Sox; and Kepler’s teammates Jake Odorizzi (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 10.1 IP, 15 SO), Eddie Rosario (.444, 7 R, 12 H, 10 RBI) and Miguel Sanó (.333, 7 R, 4 HR, 6 RBI).
Other noteworthy NL performances were All-Star first baseman Anthony Rizzo (.500, 8 R, 6 XBH, 10 RBI) of the Chicago Cubs; outfielder Juan Soto (.500, 7 R, 5 XBH, 8 RBI) of the Washington Nationals; third baseman/outfielder Austin Riley (.276, 8 H, 3 HR, 10 RBI) and starting pitcher Mike Soroka (1-0, 1.29 ERA, 14.0 IP, 12 SO) of the Atlanta Braves; outfielder Andrew McCutchen (.345, 6 R, 7 XBH, 7 RBI) of the Philadelphia Phillies; starter Brandon Woodruff (1-0, 1.13 ERA, 8.0 IP, 10 SO) of the Milwaukee Brewers; second baseman/outfielder Ketel Marte (.407, 8 R, 5 XBH, 6 RBI) of the Diamondbacks; outfielder Harold Ramirez (.500, 8 R, 12 H, 4 XBH) of the Miami Marlins; closer Kirby Yates (3 SV, 0.00 ERA, 6 SO) of the San Diego Padres; and backstop Wilson Ramos (.455, 9 R, 3 HR, 7 RBI) of the New York Mets.
PLAY OF THE WEEK
Diving Stop and Throw by Anthony Rendon of the Washington Nationals
May 26__th vs. MIA – Watch It Here
Seven-year veteran third baseman Anthony Rendon earned his first career Play of the Week honor. In the top of the eighth inning during Sunday afternoon’s game at Nationals Park, Rendon made a tremendous diving stop on a sharply hit ball down the third base line before firing across the diamond to record the out. Additional Play of the Week candidates included Cody Bellinger’s leaping catch at the wall to rob an extra-base hit; Carlos Gomez’s diving catch in left-center field to take a hit away; Tim Locastro’s sliding catch in foul territory; Trevor Story’s jumping throw in the hole at shortstop to get the final out of the inning; and Rafael Devers’ barehanded play on a softly hit ground ball down the third base line.