Carter named A.L. Player of the week
Slugger becomes second Astro to win weekly award this season
HOUSTON, TX - Major League Baseball announced this afternoon that Houston Astros infielder/outfielder Chris Carter has been named the American League Player of the Week for the week of Aug. 11-17.
Carter is the second Astro to win the A.L. Player of the Week award this season, joining left-handed pitcher Dallas Keuchel, who won his for the week of May 19-25. Carter and Keuchel are the first pair of Astros teammates to earn the weekly honor in the same season since 2008, when Lance Berkman (2x), Carlos Lee, Ty Wigginton and Roy Oswalt each were named the National League Player of the Week that season.
For the week, Carter hit .321 (9x28) with four home runs, nine RBI, a .750 slugging percentage and a 1.083 OPS. Among AL players during the week, Carter led the league in home runs, RBI and total bases (21), while ranking second in slugging and tied for fourth in hits.
Carter had a career day on Aug. 12 vs. MIN, going 2x4 with two home runs and a career-high-tying five RBI in the Astros 10-4 win over the Twins. This marked his ninth career multi-homer game and his sixth this season, which ties him for the Major League lead. His six multi-homer games this year also tie a franchise record, set by Berkman in 2006.
Since July 1, Carter has been one of the best offensive players in all of baseball, as he leads the Majors in OPS (1.083), home runs (16) and slugging (.713), while also ranking tied for first in RBI (39). He's hitting .311 (46x148) in that time span, and has tacked on eight doubles and 31 runs scored in his 38 games.
On the year, Carter ranks third in the AL in home runs (29) and fifth in slugging (.516). His 29 homers tie his career-high, which was set last season. Carter will look to become the first Astro to record 30+ homers in a single season since Berkman (34) and Lee (32) each did so in 2007.
In recognition of his American League Player of the Week Award, Carter will be awarded an engraved watch courtesy of Game Time, the leader in licensed sports watches, available at MLB.com.