KANSAS CITY -- Add one more to the growing list of things New York Yankees rookie Gary Sanchez has done in his first month as a big leaguer that were never done before. On Monday, Sanchez was named the American League Player of the Week for the second consecutive week, and he became the first rookie in MLB history to accomplish that feat.
Sanchez, 23, won the award two weeks ago by batting .524 (11-for-21) with four home runs and six RBIs. He followed that a with a nearly identical week, batting .522 (12-for-23) with five homers and nine RBIs, including a stretch in which he homered in three straight games. His 11 home runs in his first 23 games are also a feat never accomplished by anyone before.
"You feel happy and excited when you get an award like that," Sanchez said through an interpreter. "Because this past week I played the same way I played the week before, I thought there was a chance that I would probably get it again because they were similar weeks of production for me."
Since Sanchez's promotion from Triple-A on Aug. 3, the Yankees are 14-9 and have climbed back into wild-card contention. "I think it's hard not to look at Gary Sanchez and be in awe of what he's done," said Joe Girardi, who has installed Sanchez as his everyday catcher and No. 3 hitter.
“It’s been amazing what he’s been able to do, the energy he's brought to the team," CC Sabathia said.
Aside from the honor of being named the player of the week, Sanchez receives a watch from MLB in recognition of the award. Asked what he would do with two watches, Sanchez said, "I don't know. I haven't even gotten the first one yet."
That's just more evidence that barely a month into his career, Major League Baseball cannot keep up with Gary Sanchez.
