Welcome back to Blue Jay of the Week! Where the Jay who has contributed the most and two runners-up are acknowledged.
The Toronto Blue Jays had a successful week, winning three of four games. It was a roller coaster of a week, highlighted by a nineteen-inning loss on Canada Day and a 17-1 blowout win to close out the week. Despite a week full of surprise games and results, our Blue Jay of the Week and his two runners up are quickly becoming regulars in this series.
Josh Donaldson Leading the Toronto Blue Jays
Runners-up
J.A. Happ
Happ’s numbers don’t jump off the page, but watching him pitch twice this week leaves little doubt that he deserves to be in the top three. With two out of the four team wins coming in games he started, it would seem as if he had a dominant week. But wins are not the be all and end all for pitchers – something Drew Hutchison knows from last year. In his first start of the week, against the Colorado Rockies, Happ gave up nine hits over five innings, and allowed five runs. However, on this particular night, he was able to do just enough to get a win.
His major contribution for the week came in the Sunday game against the Cleveland Indians. Just a day removed from a nineteen-inning marathon that saw two position players pitch for the Jays, Happ needed to give the bullpen some rest. That’s exactly what he did. Happ pitched a strong seven innings of one run ball. His fastball command was excellent and he was able to work some fantastic pitch sequences with catcher Russell Martin.
Edwin Encarnacion
Edwin has been on an absolute tear recently, and this week was no exception. He is now six RBI ahead of second place David Ortiz for the American League lead, with a grand total of seventy. Ten of those came this week, along with nine hits, nine runs scored, and three home runs – an all around impressive week. His approach in the batters box has been masterful of late, and his patient hitting is leading to more walks than strikeouts. His ability to wait for his pitch, as well as his ability to hit for power and knock runs in, is what has him in constant contention to be named Blue Jay of the Week.
Blue Jay of the Week
Josh Donaldson
Donaldson is not only showing why he was MVP of the American League last year. Josh is making it impossible to deny him the starting third baseman spot in the upcoming All-Star Game. Just like Edwin, he is currently very comfortable at the plate, waiting on pitches that he knows he can drive. He did that for a total of twelve hits this week. Of those twelve, five went for extra bases, including three home runs. Not only is he hitting the ball extremely well, his defense continues to be stellar. Donaldson does a little bit of everything for this team; he continues to be the heartbeat of the Jays as they position themselves for a post-season berth. For that reason, Josh Donaldson is the Blue Jay of the Week!
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