Corey Seager, Austin Riley named Players of the Week presented by Chevrolet

Two-time All-Star Corey Seager of the Texas Rangers has been chosen the American League Player of the Week presented by Chevrolet, and third baseman Austin Riley of the Atlanta Braves has been named the National League Player of the Week presented by Chevrolet. The announcements were made earlier today on MLB Network.

Seager earned his second career Player of the Week Award and his first in the AL, previously winning in September 2019 while a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Corey is Texas’ first recipient since his teammate Adolis García in April 2021. Riley similarly claimed his second career Player of the Week Award, previously accomplishing the feat in May 2021, and is Atlanta’s first winner since his teammate Ozzie Albies in July of last season.

Corey Seager, Texas Rangers (@coreyseager5)

• The two-time Silver Slugger Award winner batted .500 (11-for-22) with six runs scored, four home runs, nine RBI, four walks and a 1.045 slugging percentage over six games played.
• Enters play today having homered in each of his last three contests, as well as four of his last five outings dating back to Tuesday. Homered in three straight games for the second time this season (also April 28th-30th).
• The 2016 NL Rookie of the Year became the second shortstop in team history to club 15-or-more home runs before the Midsummer Classic, joining Alex Rodriguez, who accomplished the feat in three seasons.
• The 2020 World Series Champion and MVP enters play today with 19 round-trippers on the season, which are his most-ever prior to the All-Star break. His 19 homers also pace all Major League shortstops in 2022.

_Austin Riley, Atlanta Braves (@austin_riley8_)

• The slugging third baseman hit .448 (13-for-29) with six runs, 13 hits, three doubles, three home runs, eight RBI and an .862 slugging percentage across seven games.
• The 2021 Silver Slugger Award winner blasted his 23rd home run of the season yesterday against the Nationals, homering in consecutive games for the fifth time this season.
• The 2021 World Series Champion enters action today as the only player in the Majors with at least 20 doubles (21) and 20 home runs on the year.
• Riley, who was named to last year’s All-MLB First Team, is on pace to become the fourth slugger in franchise history to bat .280-or-better (.282) with at least 20 doubles and 20 homers in the first half of a season, joining his former All-Star teammate Freddie Freeman (2019), Fred McGriff (1994) and Hall of Famer Hank Aaron (1969).

Other noteworthy AL performances for the week included outfielder Aaron Hicks (.421, 8 R, 7 XBH, 6 RBI) and three-time All-Star Josh Donaldson (5 R, 6 H, 3 HR, 10 RBI) of the New York Yankees; 2017 All-Star Jonathan Schoop (.414, 7 R, 12 H, 4 SB) of the Detroit Tigers; two-time All-Star Johnny Cueto (1-0, 1.29 ERA, 14.0 IP, 8 SO) of the Chicago White Sox; pitcher Kutter Crawford (1-0, 0.87 ERA, 14 SO, 3 BB) of the Boston Red Sox; and outfielder Andrew Benintendi (.435, 6 R, 10 H, 6 RBI) of the Kansas City Royals.

Other noteworthy NL performances last week included All-Star starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 15.0 IP, 14 SO) of the Miami Marlins; infielder Josh Rojas (.478, 6 R, 11 H, 5 2B) of the Arizona Diamondbacks; four-time All-Star Kris Bryant (.346, 6 R, 3 2B, 4 HR) of the Colorado Rockies; All-Star outfielder Kyle Schwarber (.318, 7 R, 5 HR, 6 RBI) of the Philadelphia Phillies; infielder Brandon Drury (.333, 5 R, 11 H, 8 RBI) of the Cincinnati Reds; and 2017 All-Star Alex Wood (1-0, 0.75 ERA, 12 SO, 1 BB) of the San Francisco Giants.

Electric Play of the Week presented by Chevrolet

Historic Triple Play Initiated by Byron Buxton of the Minnesota Twins

July 4th at CWS – Watch It Here

All-Star outfielder Byron Buxton of the Minnesota Twins earned his second career Play of the Week Award and his second this season, previously winning in May. In the bottom of the seventh inning of a tied game against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field, Buxton sprinted to make a running catch on the warning track before firing a throw to his teammate Gio Urshela to kickstart a triple play. The 8-5 triple play was the first of its kind in MLB history. Additional Play of the Week candidates included Steven Kwan’s catch against the wall in foul territory at Comerica Park; Daulton Varsho’s sliding catch in the right-field corner at Chase Field; Tyler Matzek’s behind-the-back snag on a ground ball to nab Tommy Edman at first base; and Buxton’s running catch in deep left-center field at T-Mobile Park a few days following his award-winning play.