Colorado Rockies Nolan Arenado, Nationals Harper named NL Players of the Week

Monday, Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado became the second consecutive Rockie to win National League Player of the Week, though he will share the honor with fellow NL star Bryce Harper. Arenado follows up teammate Trevor Story, who won the award last week by breaking all the records involving home runs and rookies early in the season.

In six games last week, Arenado hit .333 and tied Harper for the NL lead with four home runs and 12 RBI while slugging .852. According to the official colorado Rockies press release:

“On Wednesday, Arenado went 4-for-5 with a pair of home runs and a career-best seven RBI in a 10-6 victory over the visiting San Francisco Giants. [Arenado] had a double and two RBI in an 11-6 win in Thursday’s rubber-match, giving him a combined 10 RBI in the three-game set against the Giants — the most by any Rockies hitter in a three-game series vs. San Francisco since fellow third baseman Garrett Atkins drove in 10 from September 18-20, 2006. Arenado capped his stellar week with a two-home run effort in Sunday’s series finale against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. The performance was the seventh career multi-home run effort for the 25-year-old slugger, who currently leads the Majors with 16 RBI.”

There isn’t a stat for it (at least not one that is usually considered for these kinds of awards) but Arenado also continues to play his usual stellar defense at the hot corner. This is the third time Arenado has won NL Player of the Week and probably won’t be the last time.

Bryce Harper hit .346 over the last seven days and tied Arenado in home runs and RBI. It is already the fourth win in the career of the 23-year-old Harper who is about a year younger than Trevor Story. Wow.