Robert, Cronenworth top rookies for August

White Sox center fielder Luis Robert and Padres infielder Jake Cronenworth have been recognized as the top rookies in their respective leagues for the month of August.

Robert earned the American League Rookie of the Month Award after hitting .298/.356/.660 with nine homers, seven doubles, three stolen bases and 20 RBIs in 26 games. The White Sox also had a Rookie of the Month Award winner last September, when Eloy Jiménez took home the honor.

Robert, 23, has largely lived up to the considerable hype that followed him prior to this season, flashing a wide range of tools and helping the White Sox go 22-14 through their first 36 games, putting them in a tie with the Indians for first place in the AL Central. Overall, Robert ranks third among all position players in Wins Above Replacement (2.1), per Baseball-Reference.

Conversely, Cronenworth was largely unknown coming into 2020. Acquired from the Rays along with Tommy Pham in a five-player deal last December, Cronenworth made the Padres’ Opening Day roster as a bench player but has worked his way into a starting role. The 26-year-old posted a .355/.408/.613 slash line with 14 extra-base hits (four homers) and 16 RBIs in 28 games in August to win the National League Rookie of the Month Award.

Cronenworth has produced 1.8 bWAR this season, ranking sixth among position players, and his 1.034 OPS is the 10th highest in MLB. He’s the first Padre to earn a monthly rookie award since Christian Villanueva in April 2018.