Seiya Suzuki named National League Player of the Week

As the Cubs prepare for postseason play Tuesday, they will have an award winner on the field for them, as outfielder/DH Seiya Suzuki was named National League Player of the Week today.

Suzuki batted .318/.375/1.045 (7-for-22) with five homers, 12 RBI, a double, two walks, six runs scored over the six games this past week against the Mets and Cardinals. He led MLB in homers and RBI; ranked second in total bases (23); tied for second in extra-base hits (6); ranked fourth in slugging; ranked sixth in OPS (1.420); and tied for seventh in runs scored.

Suzuki homered in a career-best four consecutive games to close out his fourth Major League season, hitting two home runs on Thursday against the Mets followed by a long ball in each game of Chicago’s three-game weekend set with St. Louis. He drove home four runs in Thursday and Friday’s contests, becoming the first Cub with a home run and four RBI in back-to-back games since Kris Bryant in September 2019.

It’s the fourth NL Player of the Week award for a Cubs player this year, and second for Suzuki, who also won it for the week of May 19-25. Kyle Tucker won it for the week of April 1-6 and Michael Busch got the honor for the week of June 30-July 6. Suzuki is the first Cub to win this award twice in one season since Jake Arrieta did it in August and September 2015. Incidentally, Arrieta will be at Wrigley Field to throw out a ceremonial pitch Tuesday for Game 1 of the Wild Card Series.

Congratulations to Suzuki and here’s hoping for a big postseason from him!