Andrew McCutchen of the Pittsburgh Pirates named National League Player of the Week
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen has been named National League Player of the Week for the week ending June 15, 2014. The announcement was made earlier today on MLB Network.
McCutchen led the Majors with four home runs, 13 RBI, a 1.034 slugging percentage and 30 total bases last week. His .483 batting average (14-for-29) was tops among qualifying N.L. hitters, as was his .559 on-base percentage. The reigning N.L. Most Valuable Player ranked second in hits, posting multi-hit performances in all seven games played last week while clubbing four doubles and swiping a pair of bases as his surging Pirates won five of seven contests last week.
On Sunday, McCutchen collected a pair of hits in a 3-2 extra-inning loss at Miami. The three-time N.L. All-Star, who joined the outfield leaders in the latest All-Star balloting update, extended his current hitting streak to 11 games in the losing effort - just two shy of his career-best 13-game streak (2009). McCutchen is hitting .421 (24-for-57) with seven homers and 18 RBI during the streak, which dates back to June 1st. In Saturday's contest between the two clubs, the 27-year-old slugger was 2-for-4 with his 11th homer of the season and three RBI in an 8-6 Pirates victory. The three-run blast was his 114th career homer, moving him into a tie with Bobby Bonilla for 15th place on the all-time franchise list. McCutchen's hot bat helped the Bucs take three-of-four from the visiting Chicago Cubs to start the week as he went a combined 8-for-14 with three homers, four doubles and nine RBI during the four-game set. In Wednesday's outing, McCutchen went deep in the home half of the first inning, plating Bucs leadoff hitter Josh Harrison to give Pittsburgh an early lead in an eventual 4-2 victory. It was his third consecutive game with a home run. In Monday's series opener at PNC Park, McCutchen clubbed a two-run shot in the third frame to give his club a 3-0 lead as the Pirates cruised to a 6-2 win. With the big week, McCutchen's batting average rose from .305 to .325 for the season, moving him into third place in the N.L. This is his third career weekly award, having won twice in consecutive weeks during the 2012 season (July 2nd-8th and July 9th-15th).
Other noteworthy performances last week included fellow Pittsburgh outfielders Starling Marte (.469, 4 R, 15 H, 4 2B, HR, 6 RBI, .688 SLG, .485 OBP) and debuting rookie Gregory Polanco (.387, 7 R, 12 H, HR, 5 RBI, .406 OBP), as well as Pirates pitcher Charlie Morton (2-0, 1.93 ERA, 13 SO, 14.0 IP); Matt Adams (.364, 3 HR, 4 RBI, 1.182 SLG) and Trevor Rosenthal (0-0, 4 SV, 0.00 ERA, 6 SO, 3.2 IP) of the St. Louis Cardinals; Atlanta's Evan Gattis (.480, 7 R, 12 H, 3 HR, 8 RBI, .840 SLG, .536 OBP) and Craig Kimbrel (0-0, 4 SV, 1.93 ERA, 4.2 IP, 10 SO); Arizona's Paul Goldschmidt (.375, 5 R, 9 H, 4 2B, 3 HR, 5 RBI, .917 SLG, .483 OBP); Colorado's Justin Morneau (.440, 4 R, 11 H, HR, 10 RBI, .407 OBP); and Travis Wood (2-0, 1.84 ERA, 8 SO, 14.2 IP) of the Cubs.
In recognition of his National League Player of the Week Award, Andrew McCutchen will be awarded a watch, courtesy of Game Time, the leader in licensed sports watches, available at MLB.com.