Top hitters, pitchers, rookies & relievers from season's 1st month

Believe it or not, Opening Day was over a month ago and we're more than 20% of the way through the season. Now that the calendar has flipped to May, let's take a look at the monthly award winners from March/April, which include a 34-year-old journeyman infielder, a breakout ace, a resurgent slugger ... and Shohei Ohtani (but not for hitting!).

• All-time Player of the Month winners

AL Player of the Month: Yordan Alvarez, Astros

After missing all but 48 games in the 2025 season due to injury, a healthy Alvarez has quickly reminded us that he’s one of the best hitters on the planet. The left-handed slugger finished April slashing .356/.462/.737 with an MLB-best 1.199 OPS and more walks (21) than strikeouts (14). Only Aaron Judge and Munetaka Murakami finished the month with as many home runs as Alvarez, who crushed 12 dingers. It's Alvarez's third career Player of the Month win, but his first since September/October 2023.

NL Player of the Month: Ildemaro Vargas, D-backs

Amid household names and superstars, Vargas stands out. He rapped a pair of hits in his first game of the season on March 30 against the Tigers, and he hasn’t slowed down since. Vargas entered May with a Major League-best .378 batting average as a key cog in the heart of Arizona’s lineup, recording a hit in each of his first 24 games this season. His 27-game hitting streak (dating back to last year) came to an end on Saturday. The 34-year-old entered 2026 touting a career .646 OPS in parts of nine Major League seasons. Vargas is the first D-back to win NL Player of the Month since Corbin Carroll in August 2024, and the ninth overall.

AL Pitcher of the Month: José Soriano, Angels

Soriano has taken a legitimate star turn behind a revamped pitch mix and improved command. The result? He’s been virtually unhittable. Soriano leads all qualified pitchers with a 0.84 ERA, allowing just four runs through his first seven starts. The sinker-balling righty became the first pitcher since at least 1900 to allow one total run (or fewer) in his first six starts of a season, excluding openers. Soriano has held the opposition to a .163 batting average, the fifth-lowest mark among qualified pitchers. Soriano is the first Angel to win AL Pitcher of the Month since Matt Shoemaker in August 2014, and the fourth overall.

NL Pitcher of the Month: Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers

You know this drill by now: What can’t Ohtani do? The two-way megastar is hoping to add the NL Cy Young Award to what is already a jam-packed trophy case. So far, so good, amid his return to being a full-time pitcher in 2026. Among all pitchers to throw at least 30 innings this season, Ohtani’s 0.60 ERA is the lowest. It’s the fifth-lowest ERA by a Dodger through his first five starts of the season since the earned run became an official statistic in the National League in 1912. He’s allowed just four runs (two earned) through his first five starts. This is Ohtani's first Pitcher of the Month win, though he's won Player of the Month six times.

AL Rookie of the Month: Kevin McGonigle, Tigers

McGonigle crashed his way onto the Tigers' Opening Day roster as the club’s starting shortstop, and he sure has validated Detroit’s aggressive decision. The 21-year-old began his career with a four-hit game, becoming only the 21st Major Leaguer since 1900 with a four-hit game in their MLB debut. McGonigle slashed .328/.426/.509 with a .935 OPS in April, using a combination of elite bat-to-ball skills and plus power to become the Tigers’ most productive hitter. McGonigle is the seventh Tiger to win Rookie of the Month, and the first since teammate Colt Keith in July 2024.

NL Rookie of the Month: Sal Stewart, Reds

As a team, Cincinnati came into the season hoping to hit for more power, and Stewart has provided plenty of pop. He finished April with 15 extra-base hits (including nine home runs) and a .570 slugging percentage that led all qualified rookies. Along with shortstop Elly De La Cruz, the 22-year-old Stewart has anchored a Reds team that looks like a legitimate contender. Stewart is the ninth player in Reds history to win the award, and the first since teammate Spencer Steer in May 2023.

AL Reliever of the Month: Louis Varland, Blue Jays

Toronto’s Swiss army knife became a household name amid the club’s postseason run last October, appearing in 15 of the Blue Jays’ 18 playoff games. Varland has carried that success over into 2026, emerging as the team’s highest leverage reliever. Varland pitched to a 0.56 ERA in March/April with 26 strikeouts in 15 innings, with a 43.3% strikeout rate that was second best in the Majors, behind only Mason Miller (more on him below ...). Varland is the fourth Blue Jays reliever to win the award, and the first since Jordan Romano, who won twice in 2022.

NL Reliever of the Month: Mason Miller, Padres

At this point, it’s almost a surprise when anyone makes contact against the Padres closer. Miller’s swing and miss rate (55.9%) and strikeout rate (53.7%) are the highest in the Majors among pitchers to throw at least 10 innings this season, and it’s not exactly close. Even though his historic scoreless inning streak recently ended at 34 2/3 innings (dating back to August 2025), Miller still has a mere 1.10 ERA in 16 outings and is making early noise in the Cy Young conversation. This is the 27-year-old Miller's third career Reliever of the Month honor, and already his second since joining the Padres at last year's Trade Deadline.