Wilyer Abreu was the undisputed star of the week across MLB. The Venezuelan outfielder for the Boston Red Sox reached 1.585 OPS in 23 plate appearances, batting .438 with 3 home runs and 9 RBIs. His performance left a pack of hot hitters in his wake as the early days of August brought offensive fireworks across the league.
Top 10 hitters by OPS (August 3–9)
| Player | Team | AVG | OPS | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilyer Abreu | Boston Red Sox | .438 | 1.585 | 3 | 9 |
| Jake McCarthy | Colorado Rockies | .519 | 1.352 | 2 | 5 |
| Jac Caglianone | Kansas City Royals | .478 | 1.348 | 2 | 7 |
| Alec Burleson | St. Louis Cardinals | .250 | 1.275 | 4 | 7 |
| Bryson Stott | Philadelphia Phillies | .455 | 1.236 | 0 | 3 |
| Carson Benge | New York Mets | .409 | 1.208 | 2 | 6 |
| Keibert Ruiz | Washington Nationals | .529 | 1.188 | 0 | 3 |
| Jackson Chourio | Milwaukee Brewers | .250 | 1.169 | 4 | 5 |
| Tyler Soderstrom | Oakland Athletics | .300 | 1.167 | 2 | 5 |
| Matt McLain | Cincinnati Reds | .294 | 1.165 | 2 | 2 |
Latin American stars shine bright
Venezuela had a stellar week at the plate. Beyond Abreu’s dominance at the top, Keibert Ruiz of the Washington Nationals posted a .529 average with 1.188 OPS in just 20 plate appearances, while Jackson Chourio of the Milwaukee Brewers shared the home run lead with 4 long balls and 1.169 OPS. Fellow Venezuelan Javier Sanoja with the Miami Marlins batted .421 with a 1.082 OPS.
From the Dominican Republic, Ezequiel Duran of the Texas Rangers made his case with a .381 average, 1 home run, and 6 RBIs in 24 plate appearances.
FAQ
Who led in home runs this week?
Alec Burleson and Jackson Chourio tied for the lead with 4 home runs each. Wilyer Abreu followed with 3.
What was the highest batting average?
Jake McCarthy of the Colorado Rockies batted .519, the highest in the top 10, though Keibert Ruiz reached .529 in a smaller sample (20 PA vs. 28).
What to watch next week?
Abreu and the Red Sox will look to sustain their offensive momentum. The Rockies with McCarthy and the Royals with Caglianone have chances to build on their hot streaks.
