(East Los Angeles, CA) [From The Editor’s Desk]:… And Major League Baseball’s National League winner for its Player of the Week…can everyone say, especially Dodger fans—–M-o-o-k-i-e Betts. Making the same grade as Betts for the American League was Texas Rangers first-baseman, Nathaniel Lowe. The decision was announced on 8/29 by the League on its MLB Network.
Betts certainly put on a real-time hitting and home run clinic over the weekend against the Miami Marlins as he put up eye-popping and staggering numbers. His Manager, Dave Roberts, has truly found a vein of gold in designating Mookie to be his lead-off hitter. This type of magical and not frequently seen performance by a veteran player, has not been witnessed by MLB’s millions of fans during any given series that has been played in the Majors this season. All we can say is bring on all of the appropriate adjectives that come to mind just to describe the feat he accomplished.
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For fan appeal, we could be watching a Master Craftsman of his art as he propels and leads the Dodgers to winning another NL West pennant and then hopefully deep into the playoffs, if not the World Series.
Should he remain a Man on Fire, no doubt he will make the Top 5 list of candidates for the National League’s MVP consideration. To note, Betts won the American League Award while a member of the Boston Red Sox in 2018.
Read all about why each player was selected for this outstanding and coveted award. You will find their accomplishments under their names, and in Mookie’s case, under his photo.
NATHANIEL LOWE, MOOKIE BETTS NAMED PLAYERS OF THE WEEK PRESENTED BY CHEVROLET
Steven Kwan Makes Diving Catch into the Stands to Claim Play of the Week
First baseman Nathaniel Lowe of the Texas Rangers has been chosen the American League Player of the Week presented by Chevrolet, and All-Star outfielder Mookie Betts of the Los Angeles Dodgers has been named the National League Player of the Week presented by Chevrolet. The announcements were made earlier today on MLB Network.
Lowe earned his second career Player of the Week Award and his first with Texas, previously accomplishing the feat with the Tampa Bay Rays in July 2019. Nathaniel is the second Rangers recipient this season, following his All-Star teammate Corey Seager in July. Betts claimed his fourth career Player of the Week Award and his first in the NL, most recently winning with the Boston Red Sox in July 2017. Mookie is the third different Dodgers winner in 2022 (fourth time overall), joining his teammates Cody Bellinger (April) and All-Star Freddie Freeman (June & July).
Nathaniel Lowe, Texas Rangers (@nathaniel_lowe)
- The 27-year-old hit .385 (10-for-26) with six runs scored, a triple, four home runs, 11 RBI and a .923 slugging percentage over six games played.
- Homered in a career-best three consecutive games from Tuesday – Friday. Has homered in five of his last seven games dating back to August 21st.
- Enters play today having logged multiple hits and at least one RBI in each of his last four games, which is tied for the eighth-longest such streak in franchise history.
- Since the calendar flipped to August, the Mississippi State University product is slashing .392/.446/.657 with 15 runs, 40 hits, 12 extra-base hits and 20 RBI across 26 games.
Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers (@mookiebetts)
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- The six-time All-Star batted .346 (9-for-26) with nine runs, three doubles, four home runs, seven RBI, one stolen base and a .923 slugging percentage across six games.
- The two-time World Series Champion delivered his 20th career multi-home run game out of the leadoff spot on Friday against Miami, which is now the most such games in MLB history.
- The 2018 MVP enters play today on a five-game streak with at least one run scored. Betts has logged at least one run in 20-of-24 games thus far in August.
- Recorded eight hits, four homers, seven RBI and a stolen base across three games over the weekend at Marlins Park. Became the fourth player in franchise history to reach those totals across any three-game span, joining Shawn Green (2001), Jim Wynn (1974) and Hall of Famer Roy Campanella (1953).
Other noteworthy AL performances for the week included reigning Cy Young Award winner Robbie Ray (2-0, 0.66 ERA, 14 SO, 2 BB) of the Seattle Mariners; 2021 AL Rookie of the Year Randy Arozarena (.423, 11 H, 5 2B, 5 RBI) and infielder Isaac Paredes (.333, 6 R, 4 HR, 6 RBI) of the Tampa Bay Rays; third baseman Alex Bregman (.444, 7 R, 8 H, 2 HR) of the Houston Astros; backstop Salvador Perez (.417, 4 R, 10 H, 6 RBI) of the Kansas City Royals; and rookie outfielder Riley Greene (.435, 6 R, 10 H, 4 RBI) of the Detroit Tigers.
Other noteworthy NL performances last week included rookie outfielder Michael Harris II (.500, 6 R, 10 H, 4 2B) of the Atlanta Braves; outfielder Corey Dickerson (.542, 13 H, 4 XBH, 3 RBI) and starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery (1-0, 3.21 ERA, 11 SO, 1 BB) of the St. Louis Cardinals; and shortstop Willy Adames (.320, 6 R, 3 2B, 2 HR) and outfielder Christian Yelich (.462, 6 R, 12 H, 2 HR) of the Milwaukee Brewers.