‘Player of the Week’
courtesy of ‘jem’

In what is sure to be the first many major awards in Stephen Strasburg’s career, he got his first today when he was named the Bank of America MLB NL Player of the Week.

Why was he named the NL’s top player this week? Well, besides the obvious fact that Strasmania has hit the blogosphere, Mr. Strasburg is tied for 2^nd on the all-time list of most strikeouts recorded in first 2 big league starts at 22 K’s. Only Karl Spooner (27 in 2 starts in Sept. 1954) recorded more in first 2 big league assignments.

The San Diego native also fanned 19 before issuing first walk. The only other pitcher to do that since 1900 was Cinncinatti’s Johnny Cueto who went struck out 22 before walking someone in 2008 .

Strasburg is now 2-0 with a 2.19 ERA.

The Nationals’ new starter isn’t the only DC athlete getting nods this week. The United’s Chris Pontius was named MLS Player of the Week for Week 12 of the 2010 season. Pontius scored two goals and recorded an assist in DC United’s 3-2 victory over Seattle Sounders FC on Thursday, June 10 at Qwest Field.

This is also Pontius’ first career Player of the Week award in addition to it being the first time a DC United player was chosen as Player of the Week this season.

Congrats to both DC athletes on quite a week’s worth of achievements!

Rachel Levitin

Rachel moved to DC in the fall of 2005 to study Journalism and Music at American University. When she’s not keeping up with the latest Major League Baseball news, she works on making music as an accomplished singer-songwriter and was even a featured performer/speaker at TEDxDupont Circle in 2012. Rachel has also contributed to The Washington Examiner and MASN Sports’ Nationals Buzz as a guest blogger. See why she loves DC. E-Mail: rachel@welovedc.com.