Padres’ Seth Smith Named NL Player Of The Week

May 5, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres left fielder Seth Smith (12) is congratulated by teammates after scoring on a three-run home run by catcher Yasmani Grandal (not pictured) to tie the game in the sixth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

It’s hard to image after the Padres’ poor offensive performance in the first month and half of the 2014 season that there is national attention focusing on the club for their bats instead of their pitching.

Padres’ outfielder Seth Smith has been named National League Player of the Week for the week ending on May 11, 2014. Smith put together an impressive week against the Kansas City Royals and the Miami Marlins.

Over the last seven games, Smith led all of Major League baseball with 14 hits, amassing a .500 average with 28 total bases. More impressively, Smith added a homer, five doubles, three triples, and driving in seven runs.

Smith also became the first Padres’ player since Brian Giles in 2004 to come up one hit short of the cycle in consecutive games. If Smith had been successful, he would have been the first player in Padres’ history to accomplish this feat.

Ironically, Smith is the first Padres’ player  to be named NL Player of the Week since 2012 when closer Huston Street gave fans something to talk about.

He was acquired by the Padres’ this past off-season in a swap  that sent reliever and favorite Luke Gregerson to the Oakland A’s, and Smith has shown so far that the trade was worth it. Currently, the 31-year old veteran is  batting .330 with three home runs and 14 RBI this season.

The Padres’ and Smith look to continue their hot hitting this week when they travel  to hitter friendly ballparks in both Cincinnati and Colorado. Could Smith make it two weeks in a row?