All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker of the Chicago Cubs has been selected the National League Player of the Week presented by Chevrolet, and Boston Red Sox All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman has been named the American League Player of the Week presented by Chevrolet. The announcements were made earlier today on MLB Network.
Tucker won his first career weekly honor and is the first Cubs player to win since his teammate Michael Busch won last year on September 16th. Bregman earned his fourth career honor after previously winning three times with the Houston Astros on August 12, 2024; April 11, 2022; and July 2, 2018. It marks the first award for Boston since Tyler O¡¯Neill won last season on July 29th.
Kyle Tucker, Chicago Cubs (@ktuck_30)
- The 28-year-old hit .391 (9-for-23) with three homers, eight RBI, three doubles, eight walks, 11 runs scored, two stolen bases, a .913 slugging percentage and a .548 on-base percentage in six games.
- The Tampa, Florida native led the Majors in runs scored; ranked second in OPS (1.461); tied for second in walks and extra-base hits (6); led the NL in runs, slugging, on-base percentage and OPS; and ranked second among NL hitters in batting average and total bases (21).
- The three-time All-Star tallied a career-high-tying four hits on Monday in an 18-3 win against the A¡¯s in Sacramento. It was the ninth four-hit game of his career and marked his third consecutive game with a home run. On Tuesday, Tucker homered once again, extending his home run streak to a career-high four games.
- The 2022 World Series Champion with the Astros scored a run in five of his six games last week and at least three runs in back-to-back games, scoring four times on Monday and three times on Tuesday. It was the first time a Cubs¡¯ hitter scored at least three runs in back-to-back games since Anthony Rizzo in August 2019.
- The 2023 Silver Slugger reached base safely in all six games, drawing at least one walk in five consecutive games, and capped off his week with a two-run blast in the second inning on Sunday for his first home run at Wrigley Field. His five straight games with a walk are tied for the second-longest such streak of his career. Overall, the first-year Cub has reached base safely in 11 of his first 12 games to begin the year, reaching in 11 straight contests beginning with game two of the Tokyo Series.
Alex Bregman, Boston Red Sox (@abreg_1)
- The 31-year-old hit .407 (11-for-27) with two homers, 10 RBI, five doubles, two walks, seven runs scored, an .815 slugging percentage and a .448 on-base percentage across six games.
- The Albuquerque, New Mexico native led the Majors in hits and extra base-hits (7); tied for the Major League lead in doubles and total bases (22); ranked second in RBI; ranked fourth in runs scored; ranked fourth among AL hitters in slugging; ranked fifth in the AL in OPS (1.263); and ranked sixth in the AL in batting average.
- The two-time All-Star and 2018 Ted Williams All-Star Game MVP closed out his week with a 4-for-5 performance on Sunday Night Baseball, driving home six runs with a pair of doubles and a three-run homer, marking his first home run at Fenway Park as a member of the Red Sox. It marked the first time a Red Sox hitter tallied at least four hits and six RBI since Bregman¡¯s teammate Ceddanne Rafaela drove home seven runs with four hits last season on April 27th.
- The two-time World Series Champion with Houston launched his first home run of the year in Thursday¡¯s series finale at Baltimore, finishing the day with a homer, two doubles, three RBI and two runs scored. Bregman became the first Red Sox player to record two contests of at least three extra-base hits and at least three RBI within the club¡¯s first 10 games of the season. Per Elias, he is one of four players since 1901 to accomplish the feat, joining Jim Edmonds in 2003 with St. Louis; Dante Bichette in 1994 with Colorado; and Roger Maris in 1960 with New York (AL).
- The 2024 Rawlings American League Gold Glove winner tallied a hit in each of his first three games of the week, closing out a seven-game hitting streak that dated to March 28th. Bregman has reached base in nine of his first 10 games to begin the year, reaching in nine consecutive contests since March 28th, slashing .341/.383/.591/.974 over that stretch.
Other noteworthy NL performances last week included Tucker¡¯s teammates catcher Carson Kelly (.500, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 1 2B, 1 3B, 6 BB, 4 R, 1.250 SLG, .632 OBP), who hit for the cycle on Monday against the A¡¯s, and second baseman Nico Hoerner (.417, 5 RBI, 1 2B, 3 BB, 6 R, 6 SB) of the Cubs; first baseman Pete Alonso (.364, 3 HR, 11 RBI, 2 2B, 3 BB, 6 R, .864 SLG) of the New York Mets; outfielder Jackson Chourio (.345, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 3 2B, 5 R, .759 SLG) of the Milwaukee Brewers; starting pitcher Zac Gallen (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 GS, 6.2 IP, 3 H, 0 BB, 13 SO) of the Arizona Diamondbacks; starting pitcher Spencer Schwellenbach (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 GS, 8.0 IP, 2 H, 0 BB, 10 SO) of the Atlanta Braves; starting pitcher Brady Singer (2-0, 2.25 ERA, 2 GS, 12.0 IP, 10 H, 3 BB, 15 SO) of the Cincinnati Reds; first baseman Luis Arraez (.385, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 2B, 3 R, 2 SB), outfielder Jackson Merrill (.333, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 1 2B, 2 BB, 6 R, 1 SB, .750 SLG) and third baseman Manny Machado (.360, 2 BB, 4 R, 3 SB) of the San Diego Padres; catcher Iv¨¢n Herrera (.286, 4 HR, 9 RBI, 2 BB, 5 R, 1.143 SLG) of the St. Louis Cardinals; and designated hitter Wilmer Flores (.318, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 3 R) of the San Francisco Giants.
Other noteworthy AL performances for the week included starting pitcher Kris Bubic (2-0, 0.71 ERA, 2 GS, 12.2 IP, 8 H, 3 BB, 16 SO) of the Kansas City Royals; third baseman Jos¨¦ Ram¨ªrez (.421, 4 HR, 5 RBI, 2 2B, 4 BB, 5 R, 1 SB, 1.158 SLG, .542 OBP) of the Cleveland Guardians; starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 GS, 1 SHO, 9.0 IP, 4 H, 0 BB, 8 SO) and reliever Luke Jackson (0.00 ERA, 3 G, 3 SV, 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 BB, 3 SO) of the Texas Rangers; outfielder Riley Greene (.435, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 3 2B, 1 BB, 7 R, .957 SLG) of the Detroit Tigers; rookie outfielder Jake Mangum (.500 4 RBI, 2 2B, 3 R, 4 SB, .600 SLG, .500 OBP) and starting pitcher Drew Rasmussen (1-0, 0.90 ERA, 2 GS, 10.0 IP, 5 H, 1 BB, 8 SO) of the Tampa Bay Rays; Bregman¡¯s teammate, designated hitter Rafael Devers (.455, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 3 2B, 7 BB, 8 R, .727 SLG, .586 OBP); catcher Logan O¡¯Hoppe (.381, 4 HR, 8 RBI, 1 BB, 4 R, .952 SLG) of the Los Angeles Angels; outfielder Trent Grisham (.471, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 1 2B, 2 BB, 5 R, 1.059 SLG, .526 OBP) and shortstop Anthony Volpe (.360, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 3 2B, 1 BB, 6 R, .720 SLG) of the New York Yankees; rookie shortstop Jacob Wilson (.409, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 2 2B, 3 R, .773 SLG) and closer Mason Miller (0.00 ERA, 3 G, 2 SV, 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 BB, 3 SO) of the Athletics; and starting pitcher Mart¨ªn P¨¦rez (1-0, 0.73 ERA, 2 GS, 12.1 IP, 4 H, 5 BB, 13 SO) of the Chicago White Sox.
ELECTRIC PLAY OF THE WEEK PRESENTED BY CHEVROLET
Long Run and Sliding Catch by Elly De La Cruz of the Cincinnati Reds
April 2nd at Great American Ball Park ¨C Watch It Here
Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz earned his second career Play of the Week Award after previously winning Cincinnati¡¯s most recent award last season on July 15th. Overall, it is the fourth Play of the Week honor for the Reds after Will Benson won on April 10, 2023 and Yasiel Puig won on May 19, 2019. With no one out in the top of the eighth inning and the Rangers leading 1-0, Texas¡¯ Leody Taveras fouled off a pitch down the left field line as Cruz covered 118 feet of ground to range back and slide to make the incredible catch. Additional Play of the Week candidates included Victor Robles¡¯ diving catch into the netting; Ian Happ¡¯s diving catch near the wall; Brayan Rocchio¡¯s diving play and long throw to first; Manny Machado¡¯s long throw to first; Jonny DeLuca¡¯s long run and diving catch; the Rockies¡¯ triple play; Harrison Bader¡¯s run-saving diving catch; and Antonio Senzatela¡¯s barehanded stop and out at home plate.