San Francisco Giants outfielder Hunter Pence has been named National League Player of the Week for the week of April 25th-May 1st. The announcement was made earlier today on MLB Network.
In six games last week, Pence tied for the Major League lead with 10 RBI, while posting the NL's second-highest slugging percentage (.895). The Texas native also ranked among league leaders with a .421 (8-for-19) batting average (5th, NL), a .500 on-base percentage (T-4th, NL) and 17 total bases (T-7th, NL). He clubbed a pair of home runs for the week and had four runs scored. Pence went 3-for-3 with a pair of walks and a triple in Wednesday's 13-9 victory over the San Diego Padres. The triple was the first of the season for the 33-year-old slugger and his first since May 28th of last year. Pence also collected a pair of RBI in the contest, helping his club sweep the three-game series at AT&T Park. On Saturday, the three-time NL All-Star went 2-for-4 while driving in three runs in a losing effort as the Giants fell to the New York Mets, 6-5. Pence capped the week with a second straight three-RBI performance in Sunday's series finale at Citi Field. His two-run homer in the third off Mets flamethrower Noah Syndergaard gave his club a 3-0 lead while his runscoring single in the sixth provided insurance as the Giants cruised to a 6-1 victory. This is Pence's fourth career Player of the Week honor, having won previously for September 9-15, 2013; August 29-September 5, 2010; and May 14-20, 2007 (the first two as a member of the Houston Astros).
Other noteworthy performances last week included Pence's San Francisco teammates Madison Bumgarner (2-0, 1.42 ERA, 16 SO, 12.2 IP) and Johnny Cueto (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 9.0 IP, 11 SO); Clayton Kershaw (1-0, 2.81 ERA, 24 SO, 16.0 IP) of the Los Angeles Dodgers; Colorado's Nolan Arenado (.385, 6 R, 10 H, 4 HR, 8 RBI, .885 SLG, .407 OBP); and Miami's Martin Prado (.536, 15 H, 3 RBI, .607 SLG, .567 OBP) and Giancarlo Stanton (.318, 7 H, 4 HR, 9 RBI, .909 SLG, .464 OBP).
In recognition of his National League Player of the Week Award, Hunter Pence will be awarded a watch courtesy of Game Time, the leader in licensed sports watches, available at MLB.com.