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2021 MLB Highlights: Player of the Week April 12-18

We’ve got more 2021 MLB Highlights this week as The Chicago White Sox Carlos Rodón gets the nod for the American League while Ronald Acuña Jr. of the Atlanta Braves is the National League Player of the Week.

Rodón threw a no-hitter and lost the perfect game with just two outs left in the ninth inning becoming the second pitcher this season along with Joe Musgrove of the San Diego Padres to toss a pitching gem.

2021 MLB Highlights Rodón Makes History With A No-Hitter

After Yermín Mercedes of the White Sox took 2021 MLB Highlights Player of The Week honours in Week One, Rodón had just two outs to complete when he thew a pitch that hit Roberto Pérez in the foot, thereby ending the perfect game.

He finished the game with no walks and seven strikeouts on 114 pitches in an 8-0 Chicago victory. For someone who was a highlight touted pick at third overall in the 2014 Draft, Rodón has not exactly had an easy journey as a major league pitcher. He was non-tendered by the White Sox last offseason, he later re-signed with the club on a one-year deal and is now 2-0 with 14 scoreless innings pitched.

Rodón had shoulder woes and had seen his fastball bottom out at 91.5 mph. He also had Tommy John surgery in 2019 which makes the fact that he hit 99 mph in the ninth inning the game even more remarkable.

The White Sox have lost Lance Lynn to the IL as well but have Lucas Giolito, Rodón, and Dallas Keuchel, and Dylan Cease.

2021 MLB Highlights: Acuña A One-Man Wrecking Crew For The Braves

With today"s news that Acuña Jr. underwent an MRI that revealed a mild abdominal strain, you could give him a day or two off based on the way he performed last week.

He .385/.515/.846 across seven games, racking up seven walks, a double, a triple, three home runs, eight RBIs, 13 runs scored, and a stolen base.

This is his third NL Player of the Week at just 23 years old. In a game against the Chicago Cubs recently, he scored on a ground ball from 2nd base much to the surprise of players and fans.

The 23-year-old leads the majors in hits (26), runs (21), home runs (seven), slugging percentage (.887) and OPS (1.373). The 14 extra-base hits matches Hall of Famer Hank Aaron (1959) for the most through the Braves’ first 13 games in any season in franchise history.

The timetable for his return is day to day and he could see time on the IL.

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Main image credit: Embed from Getty Images

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