Kyle Hendricks named National League Player of the Week

Cubs righthander Kyle Hendricks threw a masterpiece Friday night against the Brewers, a three-hit complete-game shutout in 103 pitches, with nine strikeouts and no walks.

For that outstanding performance, Kyle was named National League Player of the Week.

Among other things, Kyle accomplished the following with his great outing on Friday:

• Hendricks became the first Cubs pitcher to toss a nine-inning shutout on Opening Day since Bill Bonham in 1974, and the first Major Leaguer since Clayton Kershaw in 2013.
• Kyle joined Hall of Famer Bob Gibson (1967) and Chris Short (1968) as the only hurlers to register nine or more strikeouts and no walks in a shutout on Opening Day since 1901.

This honor gives the Cubs back-to-back N.L. Players of the Week, because Ian Happ received it for the final week of the 2019 regular season, a week in which he hit .455/.500/1.136 (1.636 OPS), going 10-for-22 with four home runs. Kris Bryant also received N.L. Player of the Week honors last year for the week ending September 15.

• Congratulations to Kyle Hendricks for this honor, the second of his career (previously, for the week ending August 7, 2016). Nelson Cruz of the Twins was named American League Player of the Week for hitting .538 (7-for-23) with seven runs scored, two doubles, three home runs, 10 RBI, a walk, and a 1.385 slugging percentage over three games played.

And a note from me: You can get your very own T-shirt commemorating the Professor’s great performance, the latest from Breaking T. Get yours here! Full disclosure, I get a small cut of the sales from each T-shirt sold.