Raul Ibanez is named the National League Player of the Week for the Week of May 11-17.

After big week, Ibanez takes NL honors

Phils veteran slugger ripped four homers, drove in 12 runs

Phillies left fielder Raul Ibanez, who is among the Major Leagues’ home run leaders, has been named National League Player of the Week presented by Bank of America for the period ending Sunday.

The 36-year-old veteran’s 12 RBIs and nine runs topped the NL for the week, and his four homers and 13 hits were second in the league. A big factor in his first NL season for the defending World Series champions, Ibanez hit .481 with a slugging percentage of .963.

Ibanez’s week included a three-homer day in Saturday’s doubleheader in Washington, where he led the Phillies to a sweep with seven RBIs.

The productive week left him with a season average of .357, with 13 homers and 35 RBIs — on pace for a career year in his 14th season.

The weekly award, while Ibanez’s first in the NL, is the fifth overall of his career.

Others drawing consideration for the honor were Mets teammates Carlos Beltran (.393) and David Wright (.556, nine RBIs); the Nationals’ Cristian Guzman (.394, 13 hits) and Nick Johnson (.423, nine RBIs); the Astros’ Lance Berkman (.474); the Brewers’ Prince Fielder (.333, four homers, 10 RBIs) and Trevor Hoffman (four saves, 0.00 ERA); the Pirates’ Brandon Moss (.579); the Rockies’ Brad Hawpe (.476, two homers, 12 RBIs); the Dodgers’ Juan Pierre (.407); and the Padres’ Adrian Gonzalez, who took over the Major League lead with five homers for a total of 15.

Tom Singer is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs. (H/T Phillies.com)

Is it too early to start with the MVP chants for this guy? I think all of us Phillies fans can stop worrying about whether he was worth all of that money. He is, he is, he is!!!!!

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