Carpenter, Freeman win Player of the Week honors

On Monday, Yankees utility man Matt Carpenter and Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman have been named the Players of the Week presented by Chevrolet.

Carpenter added another chapter to his remarkable comeback story last week, going 6-for-15 (.400) with three homers, two doubles, 12 RBIs and a 1.683 OPS to win American League Player of the Week honors. He had 10 RBIs in New York’s two blowout wins over the Red Sox on Saturday and Sunday to close out the first half.

The 36-year-old signed a Minor League contract with the Rangers in March after posting a .605 OPS with the Cardinals across 2020-21, but after playing 21 games with Texas’ Triple-A team, he requested his release in May and subsequently signed a Major League deal with the Yankees.

Carpenter has hit .354 with 13 homers, 34 RBIs and a 1.380 OPS in 31 games (21 starts) with the Bronx Bombers, appearing at first base, third base and designated hitter, as well as in left field and right field.

This is the fifth Player of the Week Award of Carpenter’s career, but his first since 2018.

As for Freeman, he’s now won two NL Player of the Week Awards in 2022, pushing his career total to seven.

Freeman posted a .632 average (12-for-19) with two homers, four doubles, five RBIs and a 1.810 OPS last week. The first baseman entered the All-Star break with a .321/.397/.530 slash on the season, his first after leaving the Braves to sign a six-year, $162 million free-agent deal with the Dodgers.