Another impressive round of hitting performances last week. Here are the guys who really made the grade.
Ronald Acuña Jr. ATL
The Braves star wants to put his name into the National League Most Valuable Player conversation, and make it back-to-back winners in Atlanta (Freddie Freeman in 2020).
Although the Braves started the week with a four-game losing streak, Acuña Jr. did the best he could to prevent it. He had a nine-game hitting streak, including two games with three hits to help him to either tie or lead in hits (13), runs (15), and home runs (4). His performance helped garner him National League Player of the Week honors.
Willson Contreras CHC
Although it is still early, it looks like it could be a long season for the Cubs. The team on the North Side made some moves in the offseason that could signal a rebuild.
The 28-year-old Contreras is playing the season on a one-year contract, but he certainly gave the team a good argument to keep him past that. He is currently on an eight-game hitting streak, three of those with multiple hits, and has four home runs in his last four games. Last week Contreras led the league in slugging percentage (.955) and tied for the lead in home runs with four.
J.D. Martinez BOS
When the Red Sox were swept by the Orioles at the beginning of the season, it didn’t look too good. The funny thing about baseball is that it’s unpredictable; The team would proceed to go on a nine-game winning streak and now sit atop the American League East.
Martinez is doing his best to rebound from an awful 2020 season; he began the week showing off his power with a three-home run performance against Baltimore, capping it off with a hit in three straight. This helped him earned American League Player of the Week honors.
Adam Duvall MIA
Duvall is not having a great first season in Miami, batting just .224. However, one morning last week he must have woken up on the right side of the bed and ate all of his Wheaties. Duvall had a game where he went 4-for-5 with two home runs and an outstanding seven RBIs.
Going into this game, he only had four hits in the first eight games of the season, and those seven RBIs account for 63 percent of his total in 2021.
Alex Verdugo BOS
Teammate Martinez may have earned the Player of the Week award, but Verdugo deserves some attention himself. He started the week with force: seven hits and six RBIs in his first four games. He ended the week with an American League-leading 10 RBIs.
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