Washington Nationals' Danny Espinosa named NL Player of the Week

Over the last week (June 27-July 3), 29-year-old Washington Nationals' shortstop Danny Espinosa went 11 for 26 (.423/.516/1.077) with two doubles, five home runs and 17 runs driven in, leading all Major League players in home runs (tied for 1st) and RBIs, while leading National League players in slugging percentage (1.077) and OPS (1.593).

Espinosa also ranked second in the NL in runs scored (8) and hits (tied, 11).

In recognition of his efforts, Espinosa was named the NL Player of the Week this afternoon.

Espinosa had two, two-home run games in a four-game stretch last week with a grand slam and three-run blast (one from each side of the plate) in a win over the Reds on Thursday and a grand slam and solo blast on Sunday afternoon. He did also hit a home run in Saturday's loss to Cincinnati.

Espinosa and Bryce Harper are the only two Nationals to win a POTW award so far this season.

Nats' skipper Dusty Baker described Espinosa's four-game output against the Reds, which saw him go 7 for 18 (.389 AVG) with five home runs and 15 runs batted in, as a "series of a lifetime."

"When you think about a guy drove in 15 runs, boy, that's a good month," Baker said.

Espinosa was asked where the recent run, which has seen him put up a .316/.414/.735 line with five doubles and 12 home runs since June 1st, ranks in the stretches he's put together thus far in his seven-year career?

"No. 1," Espinosa told MASN's Dan Kolko. "By far. This is by far the best time I've ever had."