Dodgers' Davalan, Royals' Chourio headline July's Minor League Players of the Month

Minor League Baseball announced the Player and Pitcher of the Month Award winners for July in Major League Baseball’s player development system.

International League (Triple-A)
Iowa Cubs first baseman/left fielder Jonathon Long batted .371/.446/.652 and led the league in doubles (13) and was second in total bases (58). He finished third in runs (20), was fourth in hits (33) and was fifth in OPS (1.098). He recorded nine multi-hit games and posted a career high five hits on July 9 against St. Paul. He was traded to the Miami Marlins on Aug. 3 in exchange for left-hander Braxton Garrett. Long, 24, was selected by Chicago (NL) in the ninth round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of Long Beach State University.

Memphis Redbirds (Cardinals) left-hander Quinn Mathews went 1-0 with a 1.04 ERA in four starts as he allowed three earned runs on 14 hits and six walks over 26 innings. He led the league in ERA (1.04), average against (.163) and hits allowed per nine innings (4.85). He was second in WHIP (0.77) and was promoted to St. Louis on Aug. 1. Mathews, 25, was selected by St. Louis in the fourth round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of Stanford University.

Pacific Coast League (Triple-A)
Sacramento River Cats (Giants) outfielder Turner Hill batted .422/.490/.611 and led the league in average (.422), hits (38) and triples (three). He was second in total bases (55) and on-base percentage (.490), was fourth in OPS (1.101) and fifth in runs (19). He walked more times (10) than he struck out (eight) and led Minor League Baseball in hits. He recorded 14 multi-hit games and ended the month on a 17-game hitting streak. Hill, 27, was signed by San Francisco as a free agent out of Marietta College in Marietta, Ohio, on May 12, 2023.

Salt Lake Bees (Angels) right-hander George Klassen was 3-0 with a 2.48 ERA in six starts as he allowed 10 earned runs on 25 hits and 11 walks over 36 1/3 innings. He led the league in innings pitched, strikeouts (38), WHIP (0.99), average against (.197) and hits allowed per nine innings (6.19). His 38 strikeouts were 12 more than any other pitcher in the league. Klassen, 24, was originally selected by Philadelphia in the sixth round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of the University of Minnesota. He was obtained by Los Angeles in a July 27, 2024 trade for Carlos Estévez.

Eastern League (Double-A)
Erie SeaWolves (Tigers) outfielder Justice Bigbie batted .407/.455/.549 and led the league in hits (37) and average (.407) and was second in runs (21) and total bases (50). He was third in on-base percentage (.455) and was sixth in OPS (1.004) as he walked nearly as many times (eight) and he struck out (11). He recorded 11 multi-hit games and began the month with an 18-game hitting streak, recording hits in 21 of 22 games. Bigbie, 27, was selected by Detroit in the 19th round of the 2021 MLB Draft out of Western Carolina University.

Chesapeake Baysox (Orioles) left-hander Luis De León went 3-0 with a 0.73 ERA in four starts as he allowed two earned runs on 13 hits and seven walks while striking out 28 over 24 2/3 innings. He led the league in ERA (0.73) and hits allowed per nine innings (4.74) and was second in WHIP (0.81) and average against (.148). He had a streak of 14 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings to start the month and was promoted to Triple-A Norfolk on July 28. DeLeón, 23, was signed by Baltimore as an international free agent out of Barahona, Dominican Republic, on December 15, 2021.

Southern League (Double-A)
Biloxi Shuckers (Brewers) first baseman Blake Burke batted .351/.447/.935 and led the league in home runs (12), RBIs (32), doubles (nine), total bases (72), slugging percentage (.935) and OPS (1.382). He finished fourth in on-base percentage (447) and hits (27) and was fifth in runs (18) and average (.351). His slugging percentage led the league by .148 and he was second in Minor League Baseball in total bases (72). He posted eight multi-hit games, tied his career high with four hits on July 5 and recorded his first career three-homer game on July 24. Burke, 23, was selected by Milwaukee in Competitive Balance Round A (34th overall) of the 2024 MLB Draft out of the University of Tennessee.

Columbus Clingstones (Braves) right-hander Cedric De Grandpre went 3-0 with a 1.13 ERA in four starts as he scattered 12 hits and six walks over 24 innings. He led the league in wins (three), ERA (1.13) and WHIP (0.75) and was second in hits allowed per nine innings (4.50) and average against (.148). He was promoted to Triple-A Gwinnett on July 21. De Grandpre, 24, was selected by Atlanta in the 13th round of the 2022 MLB Draft out of Chipola Junior College in Marianna, Florida.

Texas League (Double-A)
Tulsa Drillers (Dodgers) outfielder Zyhir Hope batted .372/.439/.745 and led the league in runs (24), hits (35), home runs (10), RBIs (28), total bases (70), slugging percentage (.745) and OPS (1.184). He finished second in average (.372) and was fifth in on-base percentage (.439). He recorded 10 multi-hit games, including three multi-homer games. Hope, 21, was originally selected by Chicago (NL) in the 11th round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of Colonial Forge High School in Stafford, Virginia. He was traded from the Cubs to the Dodgers on Jan. 11, 2024, in exchange for Michael Busch. He was traded to Detroit on Sunday in exchange for Tarik Skubal.

Corpus Christi Hooks (Astros) right-hander Bryce Mayer went 2-0 with a 0.47 ERA in four appearances (three starts)
as he allowed one earned run on nine hits and six walks over 19 innings, while striking out 29. He held opponents to a .143 average and posted a WHIP of 0.79. The only run he allowed in July was on a solo home run against Frisco on July 8. Mayer, 24, was selected by Houston in the 16th round of the 2024 MLB Draft out of the University of Missouri.

Midwest League (High-A)
Great Lakes Loons (Dodgers) outfielder Charles Davalan batted .370/.381/.750 and led the league in slugging percentage (.750) and OPS (1.131). He was second in average (.370), home runs (eight) and total bases (64), and was third in hits (30) and fourth in runs (21). He walked more times (10) than he struck out (nine) and recorded 12 multi-hit games, including a streak of nine consecutive multi-hit games from July 19-30. Davalan, 22, was selected by Los Angeles (NL) in Competitive Balance Round A (41st overall) of the 2025 MLB Draft out of the University of Arkansas.

Quad Cities River Bandits (Royals) right-hander Kendry Chourio went 2-1 with a 0.90 ERA in four starts as he scattered nine hits and three walks over 20 innings while striking out 21. He led the league in ERA (0.90), WHIP (0.60), average against (.132), hits allowed per nine innings (4.05) and strikeout to walk ratio (7.0). He allowed one run over his last 16 innings in July. Chourio, 18, was signed by Kansas City as an international free agent out of Maracaibo, Venezuela, on January 17, 2025.

Northwest League (High-A)
Everett AquaSox (Mariners) catcher Luke Stevenson batted .338/.433/.753 and led the league in home runs (eight), doubles (eight), RBIs (26), total bases (58), slugging percentage (.753) and OPS (1.186). He was third in average (.338) and was fourth in runs (18). He recorded eight multi-hit games and posted his first multi-homer game on July 28. He posted separate hitting streaks of seven and nine games. Stevenson, 22, was selected by Seattle in Competitive Balance Round A (35th overall) of the 2025 MLB Draft out of the University of North Carolina.

Spokane Indians (Rockies) left-hander Bryson Hammer went 2-0 with a 1.35 ERA in four starts as he allowed 11 hits and nine walks over 20 innings, while striking out 26. He led the league in ERA (1.35), average against (.157), hits allowed per nine innings (4.95) and strikeouts per nine innings (11.7). Hammer, 24, was selected by Colorado in the 12th round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of Dallas Baptist University.

South Atlantic League (High-A)
Greensboro Grasshoppers (Pirates) shortstop/second baseman Sammy Stafura batted .358/.379/.926 and led the league in home runs (14), RBIa (35), runs (25), total bases (75), slugging percentage (.926) and OPS (1.305). He was second in hits (29) and third in average (.358). He led Minor League Baseball in home runs and total bases. He recorded 10 multi-hit games including three multi-homer games and began the month with an eight-game hitting streak. Stafura, 21, was originally selected by Cincinnati in the second round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of Panas High School in Cortlandt Manor, New York. He was traded to the Pirates on July 30, 2025, in exchange for 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes and was traded by Pittsburgh to the New York Mets on August 3 in exchange for RHP Luke Weaver.

Brooklyn Cyclones (Mets) right-hander Noah Hall went 2-0 with a 0.39 ERA in four appearances (two starts) as he allowed one earned run on nine hits and 10 walks over 23 1/3 innings. He struck out 30 and led the league in ERA (0.39), WHIP (0.81), average against (.115), hits allowed per nine innings (3.47) and strikeouts per nine innings (11.57). He struck out a career high 10 batters on July 24 at Jersey Shore before a July 28 promotion to Double-A Binghamton. Hall, 25, was selected by New York (NL) in the seventh round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of the University of South Carolina.

California League (Single-A)
Fresno Grizzlies (Rockies) infielder Wilder Dalis batted .374/.443/.727 and led the league in hits (37), RBIs (35) and total bases (72), while finishing second in runs (24), doubles (nine), home runs (eight), stolen bases (10) and slugging percentage (.727). He was third in OPS (1.170) and fourth in average (.374). He led Minor League Baseball in RBIs (35) and finished second in total bases (72). He recorded 11 multi-hit games and set a career high with four hits on July 8 and matched it on July 26. Dalis, 20, was signed by Colorado as an international free agent out of Maracay, Venezuela, on May 12, 2023.

Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (Angels) right-hander Brayan Vergara went 1-0 with a 2.04 ERA in seven appearances as he allowed four earned runs on 11 hits and three walks over 17 2/3 innings while striking out 23 batters. Among pitchers with at least 17 innings pitched, he had the lowest WHIP (0.79), average against (.175). He was second in strikeout-to-walk ratio (7.67) and was third in hits allowed per nine innings (5.60). He had two outings of three hitless innings and another three-inning outing in which he allowed one hit. Vergara, 20, was signed by Los Angeles (AL) as an international free agent out of Chitre, Panama, on July 28, 2023.

Carolina League (Single-A)
Augusta GreenJackets (Braves) outfielder Conor Essenburg batted .329/.485/.767 and led the league in total bases (56), home runs (eight), triples (two), walks (24), slugging percentage (.767) and OPS (1.252). He was second in RBIs (24), was fourth in runs (20), was fifth in on-base percentage (.485) and sixth in average (.329). He recorded seven multi-hit games and walked more times (24) than he struck out (22). He set a career-highs with three home runs and five RBIs on July 28 against Columbia. Essenburg, 19, was selected by Atlanta in the fifth round of the 2025 MLB Draft out of Lincoln-Way West High School in New Lenox, Illinois.

Hickory Crawdads (Rangers) right-hander Evan Siary went 2-0 with a 0.92 ERA in four starts as he held opponents to eight hits and five walks over 19 2/3 innings, while striking out a league-best 27. Among pitchers with 16 or more innings pitched, Siary led the league in WHIP (0.66), average against (.123). He struck out a career high 10 batters on July 12 at Augusta. Siary, 22, was selected by Texas in the eighth round of the 2025 MLB Draft out of Mississippi State University.

Florida State League (Single-A)
Jupiter Hammerheads (Marlins) outfielder Andres Valor batted .284/.443/.689 and led the league in runs (24), walks (21), stolen bases (13), triples (two) and OPS (1.132). He was second in doubles and third in slugging percentage (.628) and fifth in total bases (51). He recorded six multi-hit games. Valor, 20, was signed by Miami as an international free agent out of Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela, on January 15, 2023.

Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (Twins) right-hander Merit Jones went 3-0 with a 0.73 ERA in six appearances (three starts) as he allowed two earned runs on 21 hits and eight walks while striking out 30 over 24 2/3 innings. He led the league in innings pitched (24.2), ERA (0.73) and wins (three) and was second in strikeouts (30) and strikeouts per nine innings (10.95). He did not allow an earned run over his last four outings (18 innings). Jones, 23, was selected by Minnesota in the 14th round of the 2025 MLB Draft out of the University of Utah.

Arizona Complex League (Rookie)
ACL Rockies outfielder Cristian Arguelles batted .475/.507/.689 and led the league in hits (29), average (.475) and on-base percentage (.507). He was second in total bases (42), triples (two), slugging percentage (.689) and OPS (1.196), and was third in runs (17), doubles (six) and RBIs (19). He walked as many times as he struck out (four). He recorded nine multi-hit games and hit in nine consecutive games from July 3-17. He was promoted to Single-A Fresno on July 29. Arguelles, 19, was signed by Colorado as an international free agent out of Coro, Venezuela, on January 19, 2024.

ACL Reds left-hander Ryjeteri Merite went 1-0 with a 0.64 ERA in three starts as he allowed one earned run on three hits and four walks over 14 innings. Among pitchers with at least 11 innings pitched, he led the league in WHIP (0.50), average against (.070) and ERA (0.64). He allowed one hit in each of his three starts and tied his career high with 11 strikeouts on July 4 against the Guardians. Merite, 20, was signed by Cincinnati as an international free agent out of Rotterdam, Netherlands, on December 7, 2023.

Dominican Summer League (Rookie)
DSL Giants Black outfielder Franco Willias batted .468/.558/.662 and led the league in hits (36) and total bases (51) and was third in average (.468), on-base percentage (.558) and OPS (1.220). He finished fourth in runs (24). He recorded 11 multi-hit games and ended the month on a 13-game hitting streak. He set a career high with four hits on July 9 and matched it on July 14. Willias, 21, was signed by San Francisco as an international free agent out of San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic, on June 5, 2023.

DSL Diamondbacks Red right-hander Jeyver Manaure went 3-0 with a 0.45 ERA in four starts as he allowed one earned run on nine hits and two walks over 20 innings. He led the league in ERA (0.45) and WHIP (0.55) and was second in average against (.123) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (8.50). He threw five perfect innings against the DSL Tigers1 on July 14. Manaure, 19, was signed by Arizona as an international free agent out of Caracas, Venezuela, on January 20, 2026.

Florida Complex League (Rookie)
FCL Yankees outfielder Wilberson De Pena batted .377/.424/.705 and led the league in average (.377), hits (23), doubles (six), RBIs (17), total bases (43) and slugging percentage (.705). He was second in OPS (1.129) and home runs (four) and was fifth in on-base percentage (.424). He recorded eight multi-hit games and ended the month on a nine-game hitting streak. De Pena, 19, was originally signed by Los Angeles (AL) as an international free agent out of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on Jan. 15, 2024. He was traded to the Yankees on July 31, 2025, in exchange for INF Oswald Peraza.

FCL Orioles right-hander Connor Gehr went 1-0 with a 0.75 ERA in three starts as he allowed one earned run on seven hits and five walks while striking out 15 over 12 innings. He held opponents to a .152 average. Gehr, 20, was selected by Baltimore in the 20th round of the 2025 MLB Draft out of Meridian (MS) Community College.