Kris Bryant, Eloy Jiménez Named W.B. Mason Players Of The Week

Third baseman Kris Bryant of the Chicago Cubs has been chosen the W.B. Mason National League Player of the Week and rookie outfielder Eloy Jiménez of the Chicago White Sox has been named the W.B. Mason American League Player of the Week. The announcements were made earlier today on MLB Network.

Bryant earned his first career NL Player of the Week Award and is the first Cubs winner this season. Kris’ All-Star teammate Anthony Rizzo was the last Cub to accomplish the feat, doing so for the week ending August 27, 2018. Jiménez also claimed his first career weekly honor and is the first White Sox position player to be named AL Player of the Week since his All-Star teammate José Abreu on May 28, 2017. Earlier this season, All-Star starting pitcher Lucas Giolito won for the period ending June 3rd. Additionally, the slugging outfielder became the first White Sox rookie to win since Abreu during his 2014 AL Rookie of the Year-winning campaign.

In recognition of their Player of the Week Awards, Kris Bryant and Eloy Jiménez will each be awarded a specially engraved watch courtesy of Artinian.

Kris Bryant, Chicago Cubs (@kris_bryant17)

• Batted .500 (11-for-22) with eight runs scored, five home runs, 13 RBI, 26 total bases, a stolen base and a 1.182 slugging percentage over six games played.
• Clubbed his 137th and 138th career home run in a multi-homer outing yesterday, establishing a new franchise record for the most home runs through the first five years of his career, surpassing Hall of Famer Ernie Banks.
• Enters play today with 31 homers on the season. With 39 round-trippers during his 2016 NL MVP Award-winning campaign, joined Hall of Famer Ron Santo (1964-67) and Aramis Ramirez (2004-06) as the only third basemen in franchise history to post multiple 30-homer seasons.
• Led by their slugging third baseman, the Cubs scored 14-or-more runs in three straight games from Friday-Sunday, becoming the first Club to do so since the 1993 Detroit Tigers, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Eloy Jiménez, Chicago White Sox (@the_bigbaby74)

• Across six games, posted a slash line of .435/.500/.870 with six runs scored, 10 hits, a double, three home runs, 11 RBI, 20 total bases and three walks.
• Enters play today in the midst of a seven-game hitting streak dating back to September 8th. Thus far, has posted the best month of his career in September, batting .333 (19-for-57) with five doubles, five home runs and 15 RBI over 14 games of action.
• Launched his 27th home run of the season on Friday night, matching Daniel Palka (2018) and Zeke Bonura (1934) for the third-most homers by a White Sox rookie in a single season.
• Recorded back-to-back four-RBI games on Tuesday and Wednesday, becoming the youngest White Sox player in history to accomplish the feat, and the first since Alexei Ramirez (August 17-18, 2008).

Other noteworthy NL performances last week included All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado (.500, 3 2B, 3 HR, 8 RBI) of the Colorado Rockies; starting pitchers Jacob deGrom (1-0, 0.64 ERA, 19 SO, 1 BB) and Zack Wheeler (1-0, 1.29 ERA, 16 SO, 2 BB) of the New York Mets; All-Star second baseman Ozzie Albies (.419, 13 H, 5 XBH, 6 RBI) and starter Mike Foltynewicz (2-0, 1.38 ERA, 12 SO, 1 BB) of the Atlanta Braves; All-Star third baseman Eugenio Suárez (.300, 5 XBH, 5 RBI, .900 SLG) of the Cincinnati Reds; starter Aníbal Sánchez (1-1, 1.29 ERA, 14.0 IP, 7 H) of the Washington Nationals; and Bryant’s teammates Nicholas Castellanos (.367, 9 R, 7 XBH, 8 RBI) and Nico Hoerner (.400, 8 R, 11 H, 11 RBI).

Other noteworthy AL performances were rookie outfielder Kyle Lewis (.360, 6 R, 4 HR, 9 RBI) of the Seattle Mariners; All-Star starting pitcher Zack Greinke (2-0, 0.75 ERA, 12 SO, 0 BB) of the Houston Astros; rookie backstop Sean Murphy (.529, 8 R, 4 2B, 3 HR), first baseman/outfielder Matt Olson (8 R, 6 H, 5 HR, 10 RBI) and shortstop Marcus Semien (.379, 10 R, 4 HR, 8 RBI) of the Oakland Athletics; starter Zach Plesac (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 CG SHO, 5 SO) of the Cleveland Indians; starter Eduardo Rodriguez (1.42 ERA, 12.2 IP, 21 SO, 2 BB) and relief pitcher Brandon Workman (3 G, 0.00 ERA, 3 SV, 4 SO) of the Boston Red Sox: and Eloy’s teammate Yoán Moncada (.500, 7 R, 13 H, 6 RBI).

PLAY OF THE WEEK

Backhanded Stop and Jump-Throw by Maikel Franco of the Philadelphia Phillies

September 14th vs. BOS – Watch It Here

Third baseman Maikel Franco of the Philadelphia Phillies earned his first career Play of the Week honor, and the first for the Phillies this season. With two outs in the top of the second inning in Saturday night’s home tilt against the Boston Red Sox, Franco made a backhanded stop on a sharply hit ball before making a jump-throw across the diamond to retire Christian Vázquez. Additional Play of the Week candidates included Garret Hampson’s leaping catch at the wall to rob Greg Garcia of an extra-base hit; Jon Berti’s fearless, jumping catch before crashing into the outfield wall; Jurickson Profar’s sliding over-the-shoulder catch in shallow center field; Mallex Smith’s leaping catch into the right-center field wall to take away an extra-base hit from Zack Collins; and Bryce Harper’s strong throw to nab Austin Riley at the plate in the top of the ninth inning of a 3-1 game.