Wilyer Abreu and Drake Baldwin made immediate statements after the All-Star break, powering their clubs with standout weekends. Their bursts at the plate earned Abreu the American League Player of the Week Award and Baldwin the National League honor.
Abreu helped the Red Sox extend a 13-game winning streak by sweeping the first-place Rays at Fenway Park. Baldwin returned from the All-Star Game and delivered an extraordinary series as the Braves won two of three against the Rangers.
Two Huge Weeks at the Plate
| Player | League | Weekly production | Team result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilyer Abreu | American League | 5-for-14, 4 home runs, 6 RBIs | Red Sox swept the Rays |
| Drake Baldwin | National League | 10-for-14 (.714), 3 home runs, 8 RBIs | Braves won 2 of 3 vs. Rangers |
Abreu used an extra game on the schedule to add more impact, with all four of his home runs coming across a two-game span. He hit two homers on Saturday as Boston rallied for a comeback victory.
The 27-year-old right fielder has paired that surge with his strongest offensive season to date. The two-time Gold Glove winner is batting .264/.337/.458 with 15 home runs, 49 RBIs and a career-best 3.9 WAR.
Baldwin started at catcher for the National League in the All-Star Game on Tuesday before continuing his hot stretch with Atlanta. His three-homer week included two long balls on Sunday, while he scored five runs during his 10-hit surge.
The reigning NL Rookie of the Year is batting .276/.362/.481 this season with 18 home runs, 54 RBIs and a 132 OPS+. According to www.mlb.com, this is the first Player of the Week Award for both Abreu and Baldwin.
Young Delivers the Play of the Week
The latest Play of the Week came from Orioles pitcher Brandon Young, who turned a Jose Altuve liner up the middle into an unlikely defensive gem against the Astros. Young made a kick save, caught the ball in the air and threw to first in time for the out.
Young also handled the Astros at the plate, allowing one run and striking out seven over seven innings. The outing improved his season record to 8-2.
