The Los Angeles Dodgers entered this season with a surplus of talented outfielders and questions about shared playing time, but all debate has now been resolved as to who should regularly man right field because Yasiel Puig has been on such a tear of late that he has not only locked up that position, but also today was named National League Co-Player of the Week for the period May 12-18. Arizona outfielder A.J. Pollock was the other recipient.
Puig posted a .348 batting average (8-for-23) in six contests last week while collecting a league-leading 10 RBI and tying for the league lead with three home runs.
The 23-year-old also tied for the league lead in total bases (20) and ranked second in slugging percentage (.870).
The key for the talented Puig has been his extra work in the cage, as well as his improved plate discipline. As such, Puig ranked seventh among qualifying N.L. batters in on-base percentage (.464), which was boosted by his four walks.
Puig was held hitless for the first time in 17 contests in Sunday’s 5-3 loss at Arizona. The hitless day snapped a career-best 16-game hitting streak during which Puig hit .409 (27-for-66) with six home runs and 21 RBI.
On Saturday, Puig clubbed his ninth home run of the season for his 35th RBI. It marked Puig’s eighth consecutive game with at least one extra-base hit and one RBI, eclipsing Pedro Guerrero’s Dodger record of seven such outings, July 31-August 9, 1985.
This is his second career weekly award, having won previously for the week of June 3-9, 2013.
The slugger collected three hits with a home run, a double, and two RBI in Friday’s series-opener between the Dodgers and Diamondbacks, helping Los Angeles earn a 7-0 victory at Chase Field.
In six games last week, Pollock was the N.L. leader in batting, posting a .500 (11-for-22) mark. The 24-year-old’s .909 slugging percentage also led the N.L. while his 20 total bases were tied for first. He also ranked among league leaders in hits (T-2nd) and on-base percentage (2nd-.522 OBP).
Other noteworthy performances last week included Starlin Castro (.407, 4 R, 11 H, 4 2B, HR, 6 RBI, .741 SLG, .407 OBP) of the Chicago Cubs; Washington’s Ian Desmond (.348, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 4 R, .826 SLG); Yadier Molina (.476, 10 H, 4 RBI, .480 OBP) of the St. Louis Cardinals; Miami’s Giancarlo Stanton (.417, 10 H, 2 2B, HR, 3 RBI, .708 SLG, .481 OBP); and Cincinnati’s Johnny Cueto (1-0, 0.00 ERA, CG, SHO, 8 SO, 9.0 IP).
By Staff of TheDailySportsHerald.com and news services
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