Jayson Werth of the Washington Nationals named National League Player of the Week

Washington Nationals outfielder Jayson Werth, has been named National League Player of the Week for the period ending July 6th. The announcement was made earlier today on MLB Network.

Werth led the Majors with a 1.000 slugging percentage last week and paced the N.L. with nine RBI, while his 20 total bases were tied for the League lead. The veteran slugger also ranked second in the Senior Circuit with seven runs scored and was tied for second with two home runs and a .560 on-base percentage. Werth clubbed five doubles last week and drew five walks while compiling a .450 (9-for-20) batting average.

The Illinois native collected multi-hit games in four straight outings last week (July 1st-5th), including a 3-for-4 performance in Saturday's 13-0 win over the Chicago Cubs at Nationals Park. Werth doubled twice in the lopsided victory, collecting a pair of RBI and two runs scored. On July 2nd, his two-run homer helped Washington out of a 0-3 hole in the bottom of the fourth inning in an eventual 4-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies. The day before, Werth helped his club cruise to a 7-1 win over the visiting Rockies, hitting two doubles and driving in three runs in the contest. Werth's batting average jumped from .269 to .280 for the season after his stellar week. His 90 hits are second on the Nationals this year behind Anthony Rendon's 94. This is his third career weekly award and first since signing with Washington in December 2010. Werth was named N.L. Player of the Week twice while with the Philadelphia Phillies for the weeks of August 17-23, 2009 and May 3-9, 2010.

Other noteworthy performances last week included Arizona's Paul Goldschmidt (.500, 5 R, 11 H, 4 2B, HR, 5 RBI, .909 SLG, .560 OBP); Pittsburgh's Andrew McCutchen (.458, 4 R, 11 H, 2 3B, HR, 6 RBI, .833 SLG, .500 OBP); Miami's Casey McGehee (.458, 5 R, 11 H, 5 RBI, .552 OBP); San Francisco's Hunter Pence (.417, 6 R, 10 H, .440 OBP) and Tim Lincecum (2-0, 0.63 ERA, , 14.1 IP, 12 SO); Justin Ruggiano (.500, 11 H, 2 HR, 7 RBI, .909 SLG, .522 OBP) and Jake Arrieta (1-0, 0.66 ERA, 15 SO, 13.2 IP) of the Chicago Cubs; Milwaukee's Matt Garza (1-0, 0.00 ERA, CG, SHO, 9.0 IP, 9 SO); and San Diego's Tyson Ross (1-0, 0.00 ERA, CG, SHO, 9.0 IP, 9 SO).

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