As much as players appreciate the All-Star break during what can be a 162-game grind, no one likes to see their hot streaks interrupted.
Fortunately for two of the hottest hitters in the game right now -- Yankees first baseman Ben Rice and Nationals outfielder James Wood -- they were able to take their scorching bats to Philadelphia for the Midsummer Classic, where they'll also also be able to hold their heads high as the latest winners of the AL and NL Player of the Week Awards.
Rice, a first-time All-Star in his third season, went 11-for-26 with five homers, 12 RBIs and 1.577 OPS in seven games for the Yankees, who closed the first half with a 5-2 week.
Rice will take part in the Home Run Derby on Monday, then make the start at first base for the AL after top vote-getter Vladimir Guerrero Jr. opted to rest his ailing back. With Aaron Judge sidelined by a rib injury for the past six weeks, Rice has emerged as the Yankees' most dangerous slugger, hitting .279/.372/.599 with 29 homers, 68 RBIs and 2.8 WAR in 91 games this season.
This is the second Player of the Week honor this season for Rice, who also took home the award on June 1.
Like Rice, Wood has taken his game to another level in his third big league season. After going 10-for-20 with five homers, eight RBIs and 11 runs scored in six games, he's now batting .279 with 28 homers and 64 RBIs on the season while leading the NL in runs (89), on-base percentage (.410), slugging (.575), OPS (.984) and OPS+ (171).
This is also the second Player of the Week Award for the two-time All-Star Wood, who earned his first honor on April 13.
Continuing the repeat-winner trend, Phillies outfielder Derek Hill earned his second Play of the Week this season with a sensational diving catch on Saturday to take extra bases away from the Tigers' Zach McKinstry.
Hill also won Top Play honors on June 29 after making a spectacular grab to rob Mets superstar Juan Soto of a home run.