Ryan Braun Named the National League Player of the Week

Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun has been named the National League Player of the Week for the period ending April 24th.

In six games last week, Braun batted .480 (12-for-25), was tied for first in the Majors with nine RBI and was tied for first in the National League with three home runs. The righty slugger's 12 hits and 21 total bases were tops among National Leaguers. The three-time N.L. All-Star also placed second in the N.L. with an .840 slugging percentage and nine runs scored while his .533 on-base percentage ranked fifth. The 2007 N.L. Rookie of the Year has reached base safely in 21-consecutive games to start the season, the second-longest such streak in franchise history behind Robin Yount's 23 games in 1983. On Monday, April 18th, Braun went 3-for-4 and collected two RBI, including the game-winner on a sacrifice fly in the top of the 12th, to lead the Brewers to a 6-3 win over the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizen's Bank Park. The University of Miami product clubbed a home run off of Phillies ace Roy Halladay on Tuesday the 19th, en route to 9-0 Brewers victory over the Phils. Braun had his second three-hit performance of the week on Friday, April 22nd, homering and driving in three runs as the Brew Crew defeated the Astros 14-7 at Miller Park. The California native is currently tied for the Major League lead with seven home runs and 21 runs scored, and is tied for fourth with a .377 batting average and 18 RBI. This is his third career weekly award (winning previously for the weeks ending 5/11/2009 and 8/8/2010).

Other noteworthy performances last week included Braun's teammates, first baseman Prince Fielder (.458, 11 H, 6 RBI, 7 R) and left-handed starter Randy Wolf (2-0, 0.64, 9 SO, 14.0 IP); Cardinals outfielder and last week's N.L. Player of the Week, Lance Berkman (.588, 10 H, .824 SLG), first baseman Albert Pujols (.286, 3 HR, 7 RBI, .714 SLG), right-handed starter Kyle Lohse (1-0, 0.00, CG, SHO) and reliever Mitchell Boggs (0.00, 3 SV, 3 SO, 3.1 IP); Dodgers third baseman Casey Blake (.370, 2 HR, 10 H, 10 R), outfielder Andre Ethier (.393, 11 H, HR, 6 RBI) and infielder Juan Uribe (.450, 2 HR, 9 RBI); Giants outfielder Pat Burrell (.429, 9 H, HR); Mets first baseman Ike Davis (.381, 3 HR, .905 SLG) and third baseman David Wright (.286, 3 HR, 6 RBI); Cubs outfielder Kosuke Fukudome (.526, 10 H, .591 OBP); and Marlins ace Josh Johnson (1-0, 0.64, 14.0 IP, 15 SO).

The National League Player of the Week, Ryan Braun, will be awarded a watch courtesy of Game Time, the leader in licensed sports watches, available at MLB.com.



(mlb.com)