Edwin Encarnacion of the Blue Jays has been named American League player of the week.

Last week Encarnacion hit .520 in seven games with three doubles, two home runs and eight RBIs. On Friday, he became the second player in Toronto franchise history to hit two homers in the same inning.

"He's had another great year," manager John Gibbons said Friday. "You look, he's been steady all year. Early on, he hit into a lot of tough luck early in the season, but I think he's been as steady, probably, as anybody in baseball."

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Encarnacion was an AL all-star and is hitting .278 with 28 homers and 82 RBI. That's even more impressive when considering he hit .238 in the first month of the season.

"Edwin's a pro," Blue Jays pitcher R.A. Dickey said. "When he was struggling early this year everybody knew it was all going to kind of catch up."

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Encarnacion is the first member of the Blue Jays to earn AL player of the week honours since catcher J.P. Arencibia did so in May 2012.