Mariners’ Nelson Cruz wins AL Player of the Week after hitting .500 over last 6 games
Jun 25, 2018, 12:04 PM
DH Nelson Cruz was one of the three Mariners named to the All-Star Game Sunday. (AP)
(AP)
Nelson Cruz has been almost impossible to get out over the last week, so it only makes sense that the Mariners designated hitter was named American League Player of the Week on Monday.
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Cruz hit .500 (12 for 24) from June 19 through June 24, the highest mark in the AL over that stretch. He also had three home runs, two doubles, one triple, eight RBIs, eight runs scored and two walks over that time period, posting a 1.042 slugging percentage and 1.580 OPS.
The highlight of Cruz’s week was a 4 for 5 effort last Friday in which he homered twice and drove in seven runs against the Red Sox.
In just three short games, the 37-year-old slugger raised his season average from .249 to .274 by going 9 for 13 in Seattle’s series in Boston.
For the year, Cruz is tied for fourth in the AL in home runs with 20, tied for 14th in RBIs at 48, and ranks seventh in OPS at .930.
This is the fifth Player of the Week award of Cruz’s career. His previous honor came on April 19, 2015, his first season with the Mariners. He won a pair of awards with Baltimore (both in 2014) and one with Texas in 2010.
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