Justin Upton Named American League Co-Player Of The Week
Cleveland Indians first baseman Carlos Santana and Detroit Tigers outfielder Justin Upton have been named the American League Co-Players of the Week for the period ending September 25th. The announcement was made earlier today on MLB Network.
Santana batted .458 (11-for-24) with five runs scored, three doubles, two home runs and six RBI over six games to earn his second career AL Player of the Week Award, last winning on July 27, 2014. Among AL leaders, Carlos finished the period tied for third in doubles and total bases (20), tied for fourth in hits, fifth in batting average, tied for sixth in on-base percentage (.500) and tied for eighth in slugging percentage (.833). On Wednesday against the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field, the Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic native went 4- for-5, logging four-or-more hits for the fifth time in his career. In the following contest against the Royals, the seven-year veteran collected two more hits, including a double and the go-ahead three-run homer in the sixth inning. The switch-hitting slugger followed up his Thursday night showing with a three-hit effort in the first game of a three-game set against the Chicago White Sox. Over the three games, Santana batted 9-for-12 with four runs scored, three doubles, a home run and five RBI, with the Tribe winning each contest. Entering play today, Santana has recorded a career-high 34 home runs this season as the Indians currently sit atop the AL Central by 7.0 games.
Upton batted .400 (10-for-25) with six runs scored, three doubles, three home runs and six RBI over six games to claim his fourth career Player of the Week Award and his first in the AL, last winning in the NL with the Atlanta Braves on April 13, 2014. Among his AL counterparts, Justin finished the week first in total bases (22); tied for third in home runs and doubles; tied for fifth in runs scored; sixth in slugging percentage (.880); tied for sixth in hits; and tied for eighth in batting average. In the Tigers' first game of a doubleheader against the Minnesota Twins on Thursday, the Norfolk, Virginia native belted a go-ahead solo home run in the seventh inning of Detroit's eventual 9-2 win. Entering play today, Detroit's offseason acquisition is in the midst of a seven-game hitting streak, dating back to September 18th. Over a stretch that saw the Tigers go 5-2, the 29-year-old veteran hit .379 (11-for-29) with seven runs scored, three doubles, four homers and eight RBI. Since the calendar flipped to September, Upton is tied with Brian Dozier of the Twins and Hanley Ramirez of the Boston Red Sox for first in the Majors in home runs (10). Fighting for a Postseason berth, Detroit sits just 1.5 games back of Baltimore for the second AL Wild Card spot.
Other noteworthy performances last week included Carlos' teammate Jose Ramirez (.429, 5 R, 6 2B, 5 RBI); Justin's teammates Victor Martinez (.500, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 1.143 SLG) and Cameron Maybin (.500, 10 R, 12 H, 5 RBI); Mookie Betts (.500, 7 R, 12 H, 8 BB) and Rick Porcello (2-0, 2.93 ERA, 1 CG, 16 SO) of the Red Sox; and Marco Estrada (1-0, 0.64 ERA, 14.0 IP, 15 SO) of the Toronto Blue Jays.
In recognition of their American League Co-Players of the Week Awards, both Carlos Santana and Justin Upton will be awarded a watch courtesy of Game Time, the leader in licensed sports watches, available at MLB.com.