Ward, Adames earn Player of the Week honors

Angels outfielder Taylor Ward and Brewers shortstop Willy Adames put together some huge performances last week. For their efforts, they were named the Players of the Week presented by Chevrolet on Monday.

No player scored (10) or drove in more runs (11) last week than Ward, who is enjoying a breakout start to the season. The 28-year-old bashed four home runs and put together an eye-popping .448/.484/1.000 slash line during the week. He tallied multiple hits in four of his seven games, highlighted by his first career multi-homer performance on April 25 vs. the Guardians. Two days later, Ward hit a grand slam and finished a single shy of the cycle.

Despite not getting his first at-bat of the season until April 16 due to an injury, Ward has recorded 22 hits -- including nine for extra bases -- in his first 15 games. He owns a .400 average and a 1.271 OPS through 55 at-bats.

Adames’ week featured four homers and a 1.203 OPS, but the centerpiece was his historic game on April 26 against the Pirates. He recorded four hits, two homers and a franchise record-tying seven RBIs in Milwaukee’s 12-2 victory that night. He swatted a two-run shot in a win over the Cubs a few days later as part of a 5-2 week for the Crew, who sit atop the NL Central at 15-8.

Adames won this award once last season and is the only Brewers hitter to be named Player of the Week since the start of 2020.