Reigning National League MVP Christian Yelich has been named the W.B. Mason National League Player of the Week, and outfielder/designated hitter Joey Gallo of the Texas Rangers has been named the W.B. Mason American League Player of the Week. The announcements were made earlier today on MLB Network.

Yelich claimed his fifth career NL Player of the Week Award, and second of the young 2019 season, previously winning for the season-opening period ending March 31st. Yelich became the first Major Leaguer since Matt Kemp in 2012 to earn multiple weekly honors before the calendar flipped to May. Gallo earned his first career AL Player of the Week Award and became the first Rangers winner since his teammate Rougned Odor for the week of August 6, 2018.

Christian Yelich, Milwaukee Brewers (@christianyelich)

• Posted a slash line of .417/.533/1.417 with nine runs scored, 10 hits, eight home runs and six walks across seven games played.

• Among NL leaders, finished first in home runs, extra-base hits (8), RBI, runs scored, total bases (34) and slugging percentage; second in on-base percentage; and third in batting average.

• Has tallied 31 RBI entering play today, establishing a new franchise record for the month of March/April. Also became the fastest player in Brewers history to reach the 30-RBI threshold in a season, accomplishing the feat in 22 games.

• With eight games still remaining in April and 13 home runs to his credit, has matched Prince Fielder (May 2007) for the most home runs by a Brewers slugger in any month. Became the first player in franchise history to club more than 12 homers before May 1st.

• Registered three round-trippers and seven RBI in Monday’s rivalry contest against the St. Louis Cardinals, becoming just the fourth player in Club history to reach those totals in a single game, joining Aaron Hill (May 7, 2016), Ryan Braun (April 8, 2014) and Corey Hart (May 23, 2011).

Joey Gallo, Texas Rangers (@joeygallo24)

• Batted .478 (11-for-23) with eight runs scored, two doubles, a triple, four home runs and 11 RBI over six games played. Notched five multi-hit games during his award-winning week.

• Finished the period first in batting average, RBI and slugging percentage (1.174); tied for first in runs scored, extra-base hits (7) and total bases (27); and second in home runs among qualified AL sluggers.

• Clubbed four home runs over a five-game stretch from April 15th-20th, culminating with his eighth on the season. His eight round-trippers rank tied for fourth in the AL, while his 22 RBI rank second.

• Gallo’s home run on Saturday night measured at 433 feet, his sixth round-tripper this season to pass the 430-feet mark (see it here). His 16 home runs greater than 430-feet since the start of the 2018 season pace the Majors.

Other noteworthy NL performances last week included All-Star backstop J.T. Realmuto (.357, 6 R, 2 2B, 2 HR, 11 RBI) of the Philadelphia Phillies; starting pitcher Jon Gray (2-0, 0.69 ERA, 13.0 IP, 10 SO) of the Colorado Rockies; All-Star infielder Javier Báez (.400, 8 R, 5 XBH, 5 RBI) of the Chicago Cubs; outfielders Cody Bellinger (.421, 8 H, 2 HR, 6 RBI) and Joc Pederson (.348, 6 R, 4 HR, 6 RBI) of the Los Angeles Dodgers; and first baseman Christian Walker (.571, 12 H, 2 2B, 2 HR) of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Other noteworthy AL performances were James Paxton (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 14.0 IP, 24 SO), who joined Clayton Kershaw (2015) and Roger Clemens (1987) as the only pitchers in MLB history to post consecutive starts with at least 12 strikeouts, one walk-or-less and zero runs allowed, and teammate Mike Tauchman (.353, 7 R, 2 2B, 3 HR) of the New York Yankees; starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 7.0 IP, 12 SO) of the Cleveland Indians; pitcher Sam Gaviglio (2-0, 0.00 ERA, 5.0 IP, 6 SO) and first baseman Justin Smoak (.444, 7 R, 3 HR, 10 RBI) of the Toronto Blue Jays; outfielder Eddie Rosario (.276, 8 R, 6 HR, 9 RBI) of the Minnesota Twins; and Gallo’s teammate, starting pitcher Mike Minor (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 9.0 IP, 7 SO).

PLAY OF THE WEEK

Home-Run Robbing Catch by Ramón Laureano of the Oakland A’s

April 21st vs. TOR -- Watch It Here

Dynamic outfielder Ramón Laureano claimed last week’s Play of the Week honors. In the top of the second inning of Sunday afternoon’s contest against the Toronto Blue Jays, Laureano ranged back to make a reaching catch over the wall to rob Teoscar Hernández of a home run. After a huge throw by Laureano, the A’s ultimately doubled up Justin Smoak at first base to get out of the inning unscathed. Additional Play of the Week candidates included Freddy Galvis of the Blue Jays with a barehanded over-the-shoulder snag in short left field on Saturday; Galvis and his Blue Jays teammates executing a perfect relay to cut down the potential tying run in Wednesday’s contest against Minnesota; Boston’s Rafael Devers made a sensational diving stop in the hole and made a strong throw across the diamond in yesterday’s contest; Yandy Díaz of the Rays made an impressive catch in foul territory, reaching into the stands during Saturday’s game; and Cody Bellinger of the Dodgers made a leaping catch at the wall to steal Christian Yelich of yet another home run.