Diamondbacks’ Nick Ahmed named NL Player of the Week
Aug 19, 2019, 1:00 PM | Updated: 1:18 pm
Nick Ahmed #13 of the Arizona Diamondbacks hits a two-run double in the fourth inning of a game against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on August 12, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
(Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
The Arizona Diamondbacks have had their players receive the NL Player of the Week honor before, but for the first time in franchise history, a shortstop will take home the award.
D-backs shortstop Nick Ahmed was named the National League Player of the Week on Monday.
From Aug. 12 to 18, Ahmed hit .423 with four home runs, 11 RBIs, two doubles and a triple while putting up a 1.503 OPS.
Known more for his defense when he first arrived in the big leagues in 2014, Ahmed has since turned into a formidable offensive threat.
RELATED STORIES
The 29-year-old is hitting .274 this season with 16 home runs and 68 RBIs. He’s on pace to surpass his previous career highs in several major offensive statistical categories by a wide margin, and also leads MLB in defensive WAR with a 2.4 mark.
In an 11-inning slugfest on Friday between the D-backs and Giants — a game that featured 12 home runs, a new Chase Field record — Ahmed went 3-for-4 with a double and a home run. He also had two RBIs, a walk and two runs scored in the contest.
Ahmed is the second Diamondbacks player this season to earn NL Player of the Week, joining Eduardo Escobar, who won it for the week ending on April 28.
