Albert Pujols, Pete Alonso named National League Co-Players of the Week presented by Chevrolet; Steven Kwan named American League Player of the Week presented by Chevrolet

Three-time MVP Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals, who became the fourth player in MLB history to record 700 home runs, and All-Star first baseman Pete Alonso of the New York Mets have been chosen the National League Co-**Player**s of the Wee**k presented by Chevrolet, and rookie outfielder **Steven Kwan of Cleveland Guardians has been named the American League Player of the Week presented by Chevrolet. The announcements were made earlier today on MLB Network.

Pujols earned his 14th career Player of the Week Award and his second of the 2022 season (also August 22nd). Albert’s 14 weekly honors are tied with Hall of Famer Frank Thomas for fourth-most since the award was introduced in the NL in 1973, and trail only Miguel Cabrera (16), Manny Ramirez (16) and Barry Bonds (15). The Cardinals have now received seven weekly awards in 2022, including three from All-Star Paul Goldschmidt and two from All-Star Nolan Arenado. Alonso was awarded his second career weekly honor, previously accomplishing the feat in June 2019, and is the Mets’ second winner this campaign (also Francisco Lindor). Kwan claimed his first career Player of the Week Award and is Cleveland’s second recipient this season (third time), joining his All-Star teammate José Ramírez.

Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals (@albertpujols)

• On Friday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the two-time World Series Champion clubbed his 700th career home run as part of his 65th career multi-home run game.
• The 11-time All-Star became the fourth player in Major League history with 700 home runs, joining Barry Bonds (762) and Hall of Famers Hank Aaron (755) and Babe Ruth (714).
• The Dominican Republic native became the first Latino player in history to reach 700 home runs.
• The consistent slugger joined Aaron as the lone members of the 700-homer club to reach the milestone without a season of 50-or-more home runs.

Pete Alonso, New York Mets (@polarpete20)

• The two-time All-Star posted a .333/.407/.917 slash line to go along with nine runs, eight hits, two doubles, four home runs and 13 RBI across six games played.
• Batted 4-for-5 yesterday with a pair of doubles, one home run and five RBI, marking his second consecutive game with a round-tripper and multiple RBI.
• Following his performance yesterday, the two-time Home Run Derby Champion established a new Mets single-season RBI record with 128 on the season, passing the previous mark of 124 shared by Hall of Famer Mike Piazza (1999) and David Wright (2008).
• The 2019 NL Rookie of the Year enters play today pacing the NL in RBI and is tied with All-Star Aaron Judge of the Yankees for the Major League lead. Alonso is on pace to become the second player in franchise history to finish the season leading the NL in RBI, and would join Howard Johnson, who logged 117 RBI in 1991.

Steven Kwan, Cleveland Guardians (@skwanzaa)

• Batted .438 (14-for-32) with nine runs scored, two triples, two home runs, 10 RBI, four stolen bases and a .750 slugging percentage over seven games.
• The Oregon State University product delivered a seven-game hitting streak from September 17th-23rd, which included five multi-hit efforts and 16 hits overall.
• The 2022 April AL Rookie of the Month slugged a grand slam as part of a three-hit, five RBI performance yesterday against the Rangers to help Cleveland clinch the AL Central division title for the first time since 2018.
• The 25-year-old enters play today with 158 hits on the season, which is the most by a Cleveland rookie since Kenny Lofton’s 164 hits in 1992.

Other noteworthy NL performances last week included outfielder Bryan Reynolds (.500, 7 R, 11 H, 5 XBH) of the Pittsburgh Pirates; outfielder Bryan De La Cruz (.458, 11 H, 6 XBH, 6 RBI) of the Miami Marlins; rookie first baseman Joey Meneses (.440, 11 H, 5 XBH, 6 RBI) of the Washington Nationals; shortstop Francisco Lindor (.440, 7 R, 11 H, 9 RBI) of the New York Mets; All-Star third baseman Manny Machado (.364, 6 R, 8 H, 8 RBI) of the San Diego Padres; backstop J.T. Realmuto (.417, 5 R, 10 H, 2 HR) of the Philadelphia Phillies; and All-Star starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (2-0, 2.25 ERA, 1 BB, 17 SO) of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Other noteworthy AL performances for the week included starting pitcher Cristian Javier (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 11.0 IP, 14 SO) of the Houston Astros; outfielder Conner Capel (.500, 9 H, 2 HR, 7 RBI) of the Oakland Athletics; outfielder Randy Arozarena (.417, 10 H, 4 2B, 9 RBI) of the Tampa Bay Rays; All-Star first baseman Ty France (.345, 6 R, 10 H, 8 RBI) of the Seattle Mariners; Kwan’s All-Star teammate Andrés Giménez (.417, 5 R, 10 H, 6 RBI) of the Guardians; second baseman Gleyber Torres (.400, 6 R, 3 HR, 8 RBI) of the New York Yankees; and outfielder Taylor Ward (.320, 2 2B, 3 HR, 7 RBI) of the Los Angeles Angels.

Electric Play of the Week presented by Chevrolet

Home Run-Robbing Catch by Riley Greene of the Detroit Tigers

September 25th at Guaranteed Rate Field – Watch It Here

Rookie outfielder Riley Greene of the Detroit Tigers earned his second consecutive Play of the Week Award and his third of the season, also accomplishing the feat in June. The dynamic outfielder is the first Major Leaguer to claim consecutive weekly honors since the Play of the Week Award was introduced in 2019. In addition, he joins Byron Buxton, Lorenzo Cain and Jonathan Davis as the lone players to receive three such awards overall. In the bottom of the fourth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field, Greene hustled to the warning track to leap and make a terrific snag to rob Andrew Vaughn of a two-run home run. Additional Play of the Week candidates included Conner Capel’s diving catch in foul territory; Tony Kemp’s running catch in shallow right field; Victor Robles’ diving snag and doubling up of Vaughn Grissom; and a triple play started by Josh Jung of the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field.