Michael A. Taylor makes home run-robbing catch to claim Play of the Week

Outfielder Manuel Margot of the Tampa Bay Rays has been chosen the American League Player of the Week presented by Chevrolet, and first baseman Rowdy Tellez of the Milwaukee Brewers has been named the National League Player of the Week presented by Chevrolet. The announcements were made earlier today on MLB Network.

Margot earned his second career Player of the Week Award and his first in the AL, previously accomplishing the feat in July 2017 while a member of the San Diego Padres. Manuel is Tampa Bay’s first winner since Brandon Lowe for the period ending August 16, 2020. Tellez claimed his first career NL Player of the Week Award and is Milwaukee’s second consecutive winner, following his teammate Willy Adames. The last time that the Brewers had consecutive weekly winners was with Lyle Overbay and Ben Sheets in May 2004.

Manuel Margot, Tampa Bay Rays (@manuelmargot)
• Batted .500 (12-for-24) with seven runs scored, two doubles, a triple, three home runs, 12 RBI, two stolen bases and a 1.042 slugging percentage over seven games played.

• Entered Friday night’s game in the seventh inning before delivering a go-ahead three-run homer in the ninth frame. It marked his first career go-ahead round-tripper in the ninth inning-or-later of an MLB contest.

• Clubbed the first grand slam of his career on Saturday night, and the first by a Rays batter since Joey Wendle last season on August 29th.

• Homered in three consecutive games from Friday-Sunday against the Seattle Mariners, becoming the first Rays player to do so since Brandon Lowe last season (September 29th – October 2nd).

Rowdy Tellez, Milwaukee Brewers
• Hit .321 (9-for-28) with three runs scored, four doubles, three home runs, 12 RBI and a .786 slugging percentage across six games.

• On Wednesday against the Cincinnati Reds, broke the franchise record for RBI in a game (8). Logged a career-best four hits during the contest, including his sixth career two-homer game and his third career grand slam.

• Logged a multi-hit effort with at least one extra-base hit and an RBI in three consecutive games from Wednesday-Friday, the first Brewers player to post such a streak since Keston Hiura in July 2019.

• Enters play today pacing the Brewers in doubles (8), RBI (24) and slugging percentage (.570), while his seven home runs and 53 total bases on the season trail only Willy Adames (8 HR, 55 TB) for the team-lead.

Other noteworthy AL performances for the week included All-Star closer Liam Hendriks (5 SV, 0.00 ERA, 8 SO, 1 BB) of the Chicago White Sox; outfielder Austin Hays (.476, 5 R, 10 H, 3 RBI) of the Baltimore Orioles; outfielder Franmil Reyes (.611, 4 R, 11 H, 1 HR) of the Cleveland Guardians; All-Star second baseman Jose Altuve (.409, 7 R, 9 H, 3 HR) and All-Star starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 11.2 IP, 5 H) of the Houston Astros; and All-Star first baseman Jared Walsh (.346, 5 R, 3 HR, 9 RBI) of the Los Angeles Angels.

Other noteworthy NL performances last week included starting pitcher Zac Gallen (2-0, 1.35 ERA, 12 SO, 0 BB) of the Arizona Diamondbacks; All-Star third baseman Manny Machado (.429, 6 R, 3 HR, 5 RBI) of the San Diego Padres; outfielder Ben Gamel (.476, 10 H, 4 XBH, 6 RBI) of the Pittsburgh Pirates; starter Max Fried (2-0, 2.08 ERA, 14 SO, 1 BB) of the Atlanta Braves; All-Star first baseman Pete Alonso (.357, 2 2B, 3 HR, 8 RBI) of the New York Mets; and All-Star first baseman Jesús Aguilar (.367, 11 H, 5 XBH, 8 RBI) of the Miami Marlins.

ELECTRIC PLAY OF THE WEEK PRESENTED BY CHEVROLET
Home Run-Robbing Catch by Michael A. Taylor of the Kansas City Royals
May 2nd at STL – Watch It Here

Outfielder Michael A. Taylor of the Kansas City Royals earned his first career Play of the Week Award and represents Kansas City’s second Play of the Week this season, previously accomplished by rookie Bobby Witt Jr. and All-Star Salvador Perez for the week ending April 10th. In the bottom of the fifth inning of a one-run game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium, Taylor ranged to deep left-center field to scale the outfield wall and take back a home run off the bat of Andrew Knizner. Additional Play of the Week candidates included Guillermo Heredia’s leaping catch at the outfield wall; Andrew Velazquez’s behind-the-back throw to nab the runner at second base; Brett Phillips’ diving catch in right field; Michael Chavis’ diving stop and throw across the diamond; and Javier Báez’s between-the-legs flip to nab down the runner at second.

COURTESY MLBpressbox.com