Hartman's hot bat earns West Coast League Player of the Week honors

WENATCHEE — Washington State's Max Hartman has been named the West Coast League Player of the Week after a scorching start to the 2024 summer season with the Wenatchee AppleSox.

The rising junior led the AppleSox to a three-game sweep of the Port Angeles Lefties, batting leadoff in each contest. Hartman went 7-for-14 over the weekend, including three consecutive multi-hit games. He kicked off the season in impressive fashion on Opening Night, reaching base safely four times with two doubles and two walks while also swiping a pair of bases.

Hartman's hot streak continued in the following games, as he went 3-for-5 with another double in the second game, scoring three of Wenatchee's 16 runs. In the series finale, he delivered a game-tying RBI single in the fourth inning and finished the night 2-for-5 with three RBIs.

Through the first weekend of play, the St. Albert, Alberta native leads the league with three doubles and is tied for the league lead with five runs scored and seven hits.

Hartman, who played 38 games for the Bellingham Bells in the WCL last summer, is coming off an impressive sophomore campaign at Washington State. He hit .286 with a .375 on-base percentage in 49 games, serving as the Cougars' primary leadoff hitter in 46 of those contests.

The AppleSox conclude their season-opening homestand Monday night against the Redmond Dudes before embarking on a six-game road trip, with three games each in Port Angeles and Victoria.