Mike Napoli of the Boston Red Sox named American League Player of the Week

    Press Release |

    Boston Red Sox first baseman Mike Napoli has been named the American League Player of the Week for the period ending May 24th. The announcement was made earlier today on MLB Network.

    Napoli batted .429 (9-for-21) with six runs scored, five home runs and 10 RBI over six games to claim his third career AL weekly honor, last winning with the Red Sox on September 8, 2013. Mike paced all Major League hitters in home runs, slugging percentage (1.190) and total bases (25). Among AL batters, he finished first in RBI, tied for first in on-base percentage (.500), tied for second in runs scored and fifth in batting average.

    On Sunday, the 33-year-old slugger went 2-for-3 with a double, home run and four RBI. His two-run homer in the second inning put the Red Sox ahead and gave him home runs in three straight games (four homers overall). The 2012 AL All-Star became the first Red Sox player to homer in at least three straight games since David Ortiz did so from July 21-23, 2014 at Toronto (also four homers in three games). No Red Sox player had homered in at least three consecutive home games since Ortiz accomplished the feat from June 10-20, 2012, and he is the first to do so in three consecutive days at home since Jason Bay from August 10-12, 2009 vs. Detroit. Concluding the week with a three-game homestand against his former squad, the Los Angeles Angels, the Hollywood, Florida native hit .555 (5-for-9) with five runs scored, four home runs and eight RBI, becoming the first Red Sox player to hit at least four round-trippers in a single series against the Angels. Since April 25th, the 10-year-veteran leads all Boston hitters with eight home runs and 19 RBI. Originally drafted in the 17th round of the 2000 MLB Draft by the Angels, Napoli raised his batting average by 41 points during his torrid week.

    Other noteworthy performances last week included Prince Fielder (.440, 3 HR, 9 RBI, .880 SLG) and Shawn Tolleson (3 SV, 3.0 IP, 5 SO) of the Texas Rangers; Trevor Bauer (2-0, 1.20 ERA, 15.0 IP, 11 SO) and Corey Kluber (1-0, 1.06 ERA, 17.0 IP, 19 SO) of the Cleveland Indians; Edwin Encarnacion (3 HR, 8 RBI, .708 SLG, 17 TB) of the Toronto Blue Jays; and Miguel Cabrera (.500 OBP, 10 H, 17 TB) of the Detroit Tigers.

    In recognition of his American League Player of the Week Award, Mike Napoli will be awarded a watch courtesy of Game Time, the leader in licensed sports watches, available at MLB.com.