Brett Gardner of the New York Yankees named American League Player of the Week

New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner has been named the American League Player of the Week for the period ending June 28th. The announcement was made earlier today on MLB Network.

Gardner batted .500 (13-for-26) with nine runs scored, two home runs, four doubles and six RBI over six games to claim his third career AL weekly honor, last winning with the Yankees on August 3, 2014. Among AL leaders, Brett finished first in hits, runs scored, on-base percentage (.581), slugging percentage (.885) and total bases (23), tied for first in batting average, tied for second in doubles and tied for third in walks (5).

On Monday against the Philadelphia Phillies at Yankee Stadium, the left-handed-hitting outfielder reached base safely in all five plate appearances in a game for the first time in his career, going 4-for-4 with his Major League-leading fifth three-run home run. Following Gardner's two-hit performance on Friday, the 31-year-old speedster was hitting .486 (18-for-37) with 12 runs scored, three doubles, one triple, four home runs, 10 RBI and three walks in his previous eight games, raising his batting average from .262 to .294. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, New York's third round selection in the 2005 MLB Draft became the first Yankees player to produce at least 18 hits, 12 runs scored, four home runs and 10 RBI over an eight-game span since Don Mattingly (18 H, 12 R, 9 HR, 21 RBI) accomplished the feat from July 7-17, 1987. During his award-winning week, the eight-year veteran compiled a streak of six hits in six consecutive at-bats bridging Monday and Tuesday, his second such streak in the previous five games (also had six hits over six at-bats from June 19-20 vs. Detroit). Per Elias, the Holly Hill, South Carolina native is the first MLB player with two streaks of six or more consecutive hits within a span of five team games since Tommy Helms of the Cincinnati Reds did so over a four game stretch from September 23-26, 1969. Following his excellent week at the plate, Gardner is now tied for the Major League lead in runs scored (58) with Josh Donaldson of the Toronto Blue Jays.

Other noteworthy performances last week included Gardner's teammate Chris Young (.393, 11 H, 7 RBI, 6 R); Carlos Correa (8 RBI, 6 R, 5 2B, 21 TB) and Collin McHugh (2-0, 1.69 ERA, 16.0 IP, 14 SO) of the Houston Astros; Torii Hunter (3 HR, 7 R, 7 RBI, .864 SLG) of the Minnesota Twins; Greg Holland (3 SV, 0.00 ERA, 5 SO) of the Kansas City Royals; and Adam Eaton (2 HR, 2 3B, 20 TB, .769 SLG) of the Chicago White Sox.

In recognition of his American League Player of the Week Award, Brett Gardner will be awarded a watch courtesy of Game Time, the leader in licensed sports watches, available at MLB.com.