Former SF Giants slugger wins American League Player of the Week

Former SF Giants slugger Adam Duvall won American League Player of the Week after starring for the Boston Red Sox in his first week with the team.

Boston Red Sox outfielder Adam Duvall won the first American League Player of the Week award of the season on Monday. Duvall got off to a scorching start in his first season with the Red Sox. Duvall, of course, was drafted by the SF Giants back in 2010 and made his big-league debut with San Francisco before he was packaged in an ill-fated trade for Mike Leake. Duvall signed a one-year, $7 million contract with Boston this offseason, which includes another $3 million in potential incentives.

Red Sox center fielder Adam Duvall gets a hit to drive win two runs against the Orioles. (2023) / David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Duvall is leading the league in nearly every major statistical category after the first few games of the season, hitting .571/.600/1.357 with three doubles, a triple, two home runs, six runs, and eight RBI. The 34-year-old veteran has been the Red Sox starting center fielder in each of their first three games of the season, and has also recorded five putouts and an assist without making an error.

Duvall was drafted and developed as a third baseman in the Giants organization. An 11th-round pick out of Louisville, Duvall showed off massive power throughout his minor-league career. However, an older prospect who most evaluators believed lacked the athleticism to be a solid defensive player; he was never ranked among the best prospects in the farm system by major outlets.

The Giants gave Duvall his first MLB action in 2014, rewarding him for an excellent season at Triple-A. He hit three home runs in 77 plate appearances but also struck out 20 times and was held to a .192/.234/.342 line. Young Matt Duffy locked down the Giants third base job the following season, blocking Duvall from reaching the majors. With San Francisco convinced he was not a viable defensive outfielder, they traded him alongside right-handed pitching prospect Keury Mella to the Cincinnati Reds for starting pitcher Mike Leake.

In Cincinnati, Duvall almost immediately became an everyday left fielder, showing off a surprising feel for the position. In 2016, his first full season in the bigs, Duvall hit 30 home runs and was an All-Star selection.

While injuries and strikeouts have limited Duvall from remaining an All-Star caliber player, he has morphed into a surprisingly adept outfielder, capable of playing all three positions, with impressive power. He has recorded at least 30 home runs in four of the past six seasons, blasting 16 bombs in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.

Former SF Giants general manager Bobby Evans was seemingly haunted by the decision to part with Adam Duvall. As Duvall became the power-hitting left fielder the Giants needed in their lineup, San Francisco was unable to find a permanent solution. Nearly 10 years later, Duvall remains a quality big leaguer with the Boston Red Sox, and last week, he was the best player in the American League.