Twins' Plouffe, Santana Named AL Co-Players of the Week

Minnesota Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe and center fielder Danny Santana have been named the American League Co-Players of the Week for the period ending August 24th. The announcement was made earlier today on MLB Network.

Plouffe batted .367 (11-for-30) with five doubles, two homers, 10 RBI and six runs scored while the rookie Santana batted .378 (14-for-37) with two doubles, two triples, one homer, six RBI and seven runs scored. Each player claimed their first career weekly honors. They are the second and third Twins to win this season after teammate Chris Colabello won on April 7th. Jason Kubel and Delmon Young were the last pair of Minnesota teammates to share a weekly honor (October 4, 2009), and the last Twins rookie to get tabbed was Carlos Gomez, now with the Milwaukee Brewers, on September 15, 2008. Among Major League leaders, Plouffe, a California native, was tied for first in doubles while Santana led all hitters in hits and was tied for first overall in triples and total bases (23). In the A.L., Plouffe was second in RBI and total bases (22), fourth in slugging percentage (.733) and was tied for fourth in hits. Meanwhile, the 23-year-old Santana was tied for third in the league in runs scored and was 10th in slugging percentage (.622). Danny is riding a nine-game hitting streak heading into play today, batting .357 (15-for-42) with two doubles, three triples, one homer, six RBI and eight runs scored over the span, including five straight multi-hit games.

The Minnesota duo helped put on an offensive display in their Friday tilt with the Detroit Tigers, going a combined 6-for-12 with a double, two homers, seven RBI and six runs scored to lead the Twins to a 20-6 victory at Target Field. Santana, who hails from the Dominican Republic, had one of the homers and led the squad with four RBI in the decisive victory. The 20 runs were the most by Minnesota at Target Field and it
marked its most since a 20-1 win over the Chicago White Sox on May 21, 2009 at U.S. Cellular Field. In the early game of a doubleheader with the Tigers on Saturday, Santana picked up where he left off on Friday, going 2-for-4 with a triple and two runs scored as the Twins defeated the Tigers, 12-4. In the nightcap, Plouffe, a first round pick of the Twins (20th overall) in 2004, went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and two RBI to couple with Santana's two hits (including a double), but Detroit outlasted Minnesota, 8-6.

Plouffe, a five-year veteran, is batting .252 with 37 doubles, two triples, 10 home runs, 65 RBI and 57 runs scored in 109 games this season, setting new career highs in doubles, triples, RBI, walks and runs scored. In the meantime, Santana has enjoyed a solid rookie season in the Majors, batting .324 with 17 doubles, six triples, six homers, 34 RBI, 48 runs scored and 12 stolen bases in 72 games. Among A.L. rookies, Danny is tied for first in triples, is third in runs scored, fifth in hits, tied for fifth in extra-base hits (29) and is sixth in doubles and RBI.

Other noteworthy performances last week included Plouffe and Santana's Twins teammates Brian Dozier (11 BB), Oswaldo Arcia (3 HR, 8 RBI) and Kennys Vargas (.371, 5 2B, 8 RBI); Boston's Yoenis Cespedes (.318, 1 HR, 7 RBI); New York's Brandon McCarthy (SHO vs. HOU on 8/21); and Detroit's Rick Porcello (SHO at TB on 8/20).

In recognition of their American League Co-Players of the Week Awards, Trevor Plouffe and Danny Santana will each be awarded a watch courtesy of Game Time, the leader in licensed sports watches, available at MLB.com.

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