Nelson Cruz Named AL Player Of The Week

The Minnesota Twins opened the 2020 season by winning 2 out of 3 in against the White Sox in Chicago and Nelson Cruz was a driving force.

Monday, Major League Baseball rewarded the 40-year-old designated hitter for an amazing weekend by naming him the AL Player Of The Week.

Cruz earned American League honors after going 7-for-13 (.538) with three homers, two doubles, 10 RBIs and a 1.956 OPS in Minnesota’s first three games. He leads the Majors in hits, homers, RBIs, OPS and total bases.

Sunday's performance was especially amazing.  The Twins won the game 14-2 and Cruz had four extra-base hits (two homers, two doubles) and seven RBIs.

This is the seventh time he has been named Player of the Week.

The Twins will now head back to Minnesota for their Home Opener Tuesday against the St. Louis Cardinals. The Twins have a lot planned around the game including a ceremonial first pitch which will honor frontline health care workers and tributes to George Floyd.

The team will be unveiling a memorial graphic on the outfield wall to honor Floyd, which will remain in place throughout the season.  The Twins will also take an in-game moment of silence at 8:46 p.m. and they'll share a message from The Players Alliance focused on support of the Black Lives Matter movement.

That will kick of an 8-game homestand for the Twins which will feature three games against both St. Louis and division rival Cleveland, followed by two games against the Pittsburgh Pirates.