Billy Butler (photo/MLB)
Kansas City Royals designated hitter and first baseman Billy Butler has been named the American League Player of the Week for the
period ending August 10th. The announcement was made earlier today on MLB Network.
Butler batted .435 (10-for-23) with five doubles, two homers, seven RBI and seven runs scored in six games to capture his fifth career
weekly honor. He is the first Royal to get tabbed with a Player of the Week Award since he last won for the week ending July 29, 2012. Billy topped all A.L. hitters in slugging percentage (.913) and total bases (21), was tied for first in doubles, tied for second in RBI and runs scored, was fourth in batting average and was tied for sixth in hits. Butler is riding a seven-game hitting streak heading into play today, batting .481 (13-for-27) over the stretch, and he has helped facilitate the Royals into Postseason contention with a seven-game winning streak to trail the A.L.
Central-leading Detroit Tigers by just a half-game. Kansas City’s recent seven game win streak has given the Royals a 1.5-game lead for the second A.L. Wild Card spot.