Rookie backstop/designated hitter Yermín Mercedes of the Chicago White Sox has been chosen the American League Player of the Week presented by Chevrolet, and All-Star first baseman Eric Hosmer of the San Diego Padres has been named the National League Player of the Week presented by Chevrolet. The announcements were made earlier today on MLB Network.
Mercedes earned his first career AL Player of the Week Award, and is the first White Sox winner since his All-Star teammate Lucas Giolito last year following his no-hitter for the period ending August 31st. Yermín became the South Side’s first rookie to accomplish the feat since last year’s AL MVP José Abreu did so during his 2014 AL Rookie of the Year Award-winning campaign. Hosmer claimed his second career weekly award, previously winning in the AL on September 11, 2017 while still a member of the Kansas City Royals. Eric is the first Padres winner since his All-Star teammate Manny Machado earned consecutive honors in August 2020.
Yermín Mercedes, Chicago White Sox (@ymercedes73)
- Batted .643 (9-for-14) with two runs scored, two doubles, a home run, six RBI and a 1.000 slugging percentage over three games played.
- Began the 2021 campaign in historic fashion, becoming the first Major League player since at least 1900 to log eight consecutive hits to start a season (8-for-8).
- On Friday night against the Los Angeles Angels, became the first player in MLB history to bat 5-for-5 in his first career start. Joined Cecil Travis (1933) as the only players in history to deliver five hits in his first outing.
- Clubbed the first home run of his Major League career on Saturday night, while also tallying his second double of the season and a pair of RBI.
Eric Hosmer, San Diego Padres (@hosmer305)
- Posted a slash line of .636/.667/1.364 with three runs, seven hits, two doubles, two home runs, six RBI and a walk across three games.
- Became the fifth player in franchise history to homer in each of his first two games of the season, joining Fred McGriff (1992), Brian Giles (2005), Adrián González (2010) and Seth Smith (2014).
- Also became the first Padres player to begin a campaign by registering three hits in each of the team’s first two games. Collected three RBI in each contest as well.
- Recorded 13 total based across the Padres’ first two games against the Arizona Diamondbacks, establishing a new franchise record and surpassing the previous mark of 12 set by Christian Villanueva in 2018.
Other noteworthy AL performances for the week included All-Stars Michael Brantley (.667, 5 R, 6 H, 4 2B) and Alex Bregman (.500, 4 R, 2 HR, 5 RBI) of the Houston Astros; All-Star starting pitcher José Berríos of the Minnesota Twins (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 6.0 IP, 12 SO, 0 H, 0 BB); All-Star starter John Means (1-0, 0.00, 5 SO, 0 BB) and outfielder Cedric Mullins (.692, 4 R, 9 H, 3 2B) of the Baltimore Orioles; outfielder Michael A. Taylor (.462, 4 R, 2 HR, 6 RBI) of the Kansas City Royals; All-Star outfielder Joey Gallo (.500, 4 R, 5 H, 4 RBI) and first baseman Nate Lowe (.357, 2 R, 2 XBH, 9 RBI) of the Texas Rangers; and first baseman Jared Walsh (.500, 3 R, 2 HR, 6 RBI) of the Los Angeles Angels, who delivered a walk-off home run in last night’s thrilling game.
Other noteworthy NL performances last week included All-Star infielder Ketel Marte (.563, 4 R, 4 XBH, 1.063 SLG) of the D-backs; outfielder Nick Castellanos (.545, 6 R, 2 HR, 5 RBI) of the Cincinnati Reds; All-Star shortstop Corey Seager (.667, 4 R, 8 H, 2 2B) of the Los Angeles Dodgers; All-Star third baseman Evan Longoria (.364, 4 H, 2 HR, 4 RBI) of the San Francisco Giants; and starting pitcher Zack Wheeler (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 12 SO, 0 BB) of the Philadelphia Phillies.
PLAY OF THE WEEK
Diving Stop and Throw by Elvis Andrus of the Oakland A’s
April 3rd vs. HOU – Watch It Here
All-Star shortstop Elvis Andrus of the Oakland A’s earned his first career Play of the Week award, and is the second A’s player to accomplish the feat since the award was introduced in 2019, joining his teammate Ramón Laureano (April 21, 2019). With one out in the top of the fourth inning of Saturday’s tilt against the Astros, Andrus made an impressive diving stop and throw across the diamond to take away a base hit from Martín Maldonado. Additional Play of the Week candidates included Jorge Mateo’s tough leaping grab against the outfield wall; Myles Straw’s fully-extended diving catch in shallow center field; José Iglesias’ diving stop and throw from shortstop; and Chad Pinder’s jumping catch against the outfield wall.