Will Middlebrooks Named American League Player of the Week

by Ricky Doyle on Mon, Jun 25, 2012 at 5:23PM

Will Middlebrooks' whirlwind week ended in fitting fashion, as the Red Sox third baseman captured American League Player of the Week honors.

Middlebrooks, who becomes the team's everyday starter down at the hot corner following the Kevin Youkilis trade, received the honor on Monday. The 23-year-old hit .625 (10-for-16) with three home runs, three doubles, 10 RBIs and six runs scored for the week ending on June 24.

Those totals put him in some elite company for the week. Middlebrooks finished atop the AL in batting average, slugging percentage (1.375), on-base percentage (.632) and total bases (22) in that span. He also tied for second in doubles and extra-base hits (six), while tying for fourth in hits and dingers.

The honor is the lastest in what has been an impressive season thus far for the rookie. His stellar play contributed to the departure of Youkilis, as the Sox know they have an evolving star to grab the reins.

Middlebrooks enters Monday's tilt against the Blue Jays batting .326 with nine home runs and 36 RBIs through 41 games this season.