Michael Pineda of the New York Yankees named AL Player of the Week

New York Yankees starting pitcher Michael Pineda has been named the American League Player of the Week for the period ending May 10th. The announcement was made earlier today on MLB Network.

Pineda went 2-0 with a 0.60 ERA, one walk and 22 strikeouts in 15.0 innings pitched against a pair of AL East opponents to claim his first weekly honor and the first for a Yankees pitcher since Mariano Rivera won the AL Player of the Week Award on September 25, 2011. Michael paced all Major League pitchers in innings pitched and strikeouts, was tied for first in wins and finished the period with the second-lowest ERA. Opposing hitters batted just .200 against the right-hander.

On Tuesday night in Toronto, Pineda made his longest start as a member of the Yankees - and the longest scoreless appearance of his career - tossing 8.0 innings of shutout ball, while striking out six and allowing just one walk en route to his fourth victory of the season in a 6-3 win over the Blue Jays. On Sunday, the Dominican Republic native delivered a dominant outing, becoming the first pitcher to record 16 punch-outs without allowing a walk since Johan Santana did so for the Minnesota Twins on August 19, 2007. Dating back to 1914, this is only the 22nd time in MLB history in which a pitcher fanned 16 hitters in an outing without allowing a walk. Additionally, the 16-strikeout effort matched the most any Major League pitcher has had in a seven-inning outing and ties the 26-year-old with David Wells and David Cone for the second most strikeouts in a single game in franchise history.

Yankee great Ron Guidry holds the Club record with 18 strikeouts on June 17, 1978 against the California Angels. Entering play today, the 2011 AL All-Star leads all AL pitchers in strikeouts (54), and is second in wins (5) behind only Seattle Mariners ace Felix Hernandez (6). Led by Pineda, the Yankees pitching staff boasts the second-lowest ERA (3.23) and the team is 6-1 in games he has started. The Bronx Bombers are off to a strong start this season and currently sit atop the AL East with record of 20-12.

Other noteworthy performances last week included Torii Hunter (.379, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 9 R, 11 H) of the Minnesota Twins; Carlos Peguero (.333, 4 HR, 7 RBI, 6 R) and Netfali Feliz (0.00 ERA, 3 SV, 5 SO) of the Texas Rangers; Eric Hosmer (.346, 2 HR, 10 RBI) of the Kansas City Royals; Felix Hernandez (2-0, 1.93 ERA, 14.0 IP, 14 SO, 2,000th career SO) of the Seattle Mariners; and Jered Weaver (1-0, 6 K, complete-game shutout) of the Los Angeles Angels.

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