Players of the Week: Stassi, Starling Marte

Angels catcher Max Stassi and Marlins center fielder Starling Marte on Monday were named the Players of the Week presented by Chevrolet.

Stassi has been swinging a red-hot bat after missing most of May with a concussion. The backstop earned the American League Player of the Week Award after starting five of the Angels’ six games behind the plate this past week and hitting .455 (10-for-22) with three homers, three doubles, eight RBIs and a 1.478 OPS.

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Stassi is the first Angels player to be named Player of the Week since Mike Trout in June 2019. It’s the first time in his career the catcher has earned the award.

Marte also was sidelined for a lengthy period of time by an injury, missing the end of April and most of May with a fractured rib. Like Stassi, Marte has been on a tear since returning from the injured list.

In seven games last week, the veteran outfielder posted a .500 batting average (14-for-28) with two homers, one double, five RBIs and a 1.298 OPS. He also stole four bases without being caught.

Another first-time Player of the Week Award winner, Marte is the first Marlins player to earn National League honors since Giancarlo Stanton and Marcell Ozuna split the award after the final week of September 2017.

“I'm not quite sure that I've ever had a center fielder play like this guy,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “Some of the plays he's been making lately, those balls back over his head, he's had some tremendous routes and getting the balls -- and then the throws. You put the whole package together.

"I don't think I've had a center fielder like this. You could say this is kind of a complete player. I'm sure when we got him, he was good, but he kind of struggled a little bit in a new environment and everything. He's been tremendous, and this is a guy that we didn't have for what, five weeks or so? Obviously that put a little damper on us, but this guy's a really, really good player."