DEL.ICIO.USMLB: ATLANTA BRAVES
Prado named N.L.’s Player of the Week
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Monday, July 06, 2009
Chicago — The biggest week of Martin Prado’s career got its exclamation point Monday when the Braves’ erstwhile utility infielder was named National League Player of the Week.
Prado hit .577 (15-for-26) with nine extra-base hits and six RBI in six games, beginning with the four-hit, four-RBI performance against Philadelphia on June 30 that won him the starting second-base job.
AP
Martin Prado hit .577 (15-for-26) with nine extra-base hits and six RBI in six games.
“Crazy week,” said Prado, 25. “It’s something I’ll never forget. But it’s a long way to go, man. This is a great thing for me, but this is another week. We’ve got to do the little things to win games.”
Prado had another four-hit game Sunday at Washington, matching the career-high he set five days earlier against the Phillies. He hit a homer and a game-ending, 10th-inning single to beat Philadelphia.
In his past 12 games before Monday, he batted .512 (22-for-43) to raise his season average from .261 to .329, supplanting second baseman Kelly Johnson along the way.
Braves hitting coach Terry Pendleton said he wasn’t too surprised by Prado’s production in an every-day role.
“This kid has always been able to hit,” he said. “Can he be this good? Who knows? He doesn’t even know.
“At times in the past, I think he’s lost confidence in his offensive ability, and I’ve told him: ‘There’s one thing you can do, and that’s hit. Don’t let anybody tell you otherwise.’”
Prado said to win an award over the likes of St. Louis slugger Albert Pujols was something he wouldn’t forget. But it’s also something that Pendleton said wouldn’t change Prado’s approach.
“He’s always humble, and he’s always going to be,” the coach said. “He doesn’t take anything for granted, and he always works his butt off. You don’t ever have to worry about him.
“I’m happy for him, that he won that award.”
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