Josh Donaldson of the Toronto Blue Jays named American League Player of the Week

Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson has been named the American League Player of the Week for the period ending May 31st. The announcement was made earlier today on MLB Network.

Donaldson batted .440 (11-for-25) with 11 runs scored, six home runs and 11 RBI over six games to claim his second career AL weekly honor, last winning with the Oakland Athletics on April 28, 2013. Josh led all Major League hitters in runs scored, home runs, RBI, slugging percentage (1.240) and total bases (31). Among AL leaders, he finished first in batting average and extra-base hits (8), tied for first in hits and ranked fourth in on-base percentage (.483).

On Tuesday against the Chicago White Sox at home, the 29-year-old slugger went 4-for-4 with five runs scored, two home runs, a double and four RBI. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Donaldson became the first player in club history to record at least four hits, four RBI and five runs scored in a single game. His three-run, walk-off homer in the ninth inning was the sixth of his career and second of the season. The 48th overall selection in the 2007 MLB Draft (by the Chicago Cubs) is the fifth Blue Jays player to record at least two walk-off home runs in a single season (also: Eric Hinske - 2002, Jose Cruz - 2001, Joe Carter - 1996 and Jesse Barfield - 1987). A clutch hitter for Toronto in 2015, five of Donaldson's 15 home runs thus far have come after the eighth stanza. In fact, of his 77 career home runs, 18 have come after the eighth inning. On Friday, the Pensacola, Florida native homered in his fourth straight
game for the first time in his career. He is the first Toronto player to accomplish that feat since Jose Bautista delivered a round-tripper in five straight contests from August 26-31, 2014. Entering play today, the 2014 AL All-Star ranks first in runs scored (43), hits (63), doubles (14), home runs (15), RBI (39) and slugging percentage (.604) among AL third basemen. Led by Donaldson's hot start, Toronto is the only club in the Majors that has not been shut out this season (52 consecutive games). This is the second-longest streak in Blue Jays history, following the club's run of 78 games to start the 1993 season.

Other noteworthy performances last week included Chris Davis (.955 SLG, 4 HR, 8 RBI, 21 TB) of the Baltimore Orioles; Brian McCann (.545 OBP, 4 HR, 8 RBI, 1.118 SLG) of the New York Yankees; Billy Burns (.379, 11 H, 6 R, 2 SB) and Jesse Chavez (1-1, 16.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, 10 SO) of the Oakland Athletics; Evan Gattis (.417, 4 2B, 6 R, 20 TB) and Dallas Keuchel (1-1, 2 CG, 1 SHO, 14 K) of the Houston Astros; and Jason Kipnis of the (.345, 5 R, 4 2B, 19 TB) Cleveland Indians.

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