Odor, Carpenter named Players of the Week
This browser does not support the video element.
Major League Baseball recognized last week's top performers Monday, naming the Rangers' Rougned Odor and the Cardinals' Matt Carpenter as Players of the Week presented by W.B. Mason in the American League and National League, respectively.
This is Odor's second such honor in 2018; he also won it in mid-July. The 24-year-old second baseman excelled for surging Texas last week, batting .304/.488/.870 (7-for-23) with eight runs scored, one double, four homers, 10 RBIs and six walks.
• Past winners:AL | NL
The 24-year-old second baseman collected his third career grand slam Friday, and he also made history Thursday at Globe Life Park. Odor became the first player in MLB history to draw five walks -- none of them intentional -- and also hit a home run during the Rangers' 17-8 win over the Orioles. Three others have walked five times and homered in a game -- Hank Aaron, Mark McGwire and Edgar Martinez -- but with at least one intentional walk and none did it in nine innings like Odor.
This browser does not support the video element.
"It's about as perfect a night you can have as a hitter," Texas manager Jeff Banister said. "[Odor] is the one that's been doing all the work. He's the one in the batter's box, adopting the mentality and philosophy, and doing the things we've challenged him with, and he's doing it tremendously."
Carpenter, meanwhile, set a new career-high mark for home runs Sunday with his 29th, tying him with the Rockies' Nolan Arenado for the NL lead. That blast, a solo shot off the Pirates' Trevor Williams, was the difference in St. Louis' 2-1 series-clinching win over Pittsburgh.
It's been a notable turnaround for the Cards veteran, who was slugging .351 with three homers through his first 40 games of 2018. In the 67 games since, he's slugging a Major League-best .722. He also earned NL Player of the Month honors for July.
This browser does not support the video element.
Last week, Carpenter batted .423/.543/.962 (11-for-35) with seven runs scored, two doubles, four homers, seven RBIs, eight walks (four intentional) and a stolen base. He's also riding the Majors' longest active on-base streak at 24 games.
"It's just a crazy stretch," Carpenter said. "I really don't have much thought behind it other than I'm just trying to hit the ball hard. I'm really not trying to hit home runs. It just happens. I'm getting good pitches, putting good swings on them. I never would have thought I'd be where I am right now, but if I keep putting good at-bats together, good things will happen."