Adrian Beltre's week went from ordinary to historic on the final day. How could he not be the American League Player of the Week?
Beltre notched his 3,000th career Major League hit on Sunday in front of his home crowd in Arlington, a double ripped down the left-field line in the Rangers' series finale against the Orioles. It was the brilliant cap on a week in which he knocked 11 hits in six games to reach the milestone.
:: Beltre joins 3,000-hit club ::
"What happened today after the hit has been the best moment in my life. I didn't know how to feel, because I had no idea what was going on," Beltre said, after celebrating the moment with his family. "I saw the joy in their faces, and a lot of things you do in your career you do for your kids and your family. My kids and my wife have been so supportive over the years, that this moment was for them."
The gregarious third baseman was named co-AL Player of the Week, sharing the honors with Mariners left-hander James Paxton. Beltre hit .478 during the week, with a home run, three doubles, five RBIs and five runs scored. He slugged .739 and posted a 1.239 OPS. But it was the last hit, of course, that brought it all together.
That earned Beltre his sixth career Player of the Week honor. The past three have come with the Rangers, most recently in the final week of the 2015 season. He has won the Player of the Week Award in both leagues, having won with the Dodgers twice -- including his first award nearly 17 years ago, in August 2000, when he was just 21.
Not that Beltre's week didn't stand on its own merits. The 38-year-old's .478 average ranked third in the AL, his .739 slugging seventh and his 1.239 OPS fourth. Only Jose Altuve got more hits than Beltre's 11. But, well, No. 3,000 trumps all.