Texas Rangers outfielder Nomar Mazara has been named American League Rookie of the Month for May.
Mazara batted .283 (30-for-106) with 12 runs scored, a double, seven home runs and 17 RBI to claim his second consecutive monthly award. He is the first AL player to win consecutive Rookie of the Month Awards since Jose Abreu of the Chicago White Sox accomplished the feat in June and July of his 2014 AL Rookie of the Year-winning season, and the first to win April and May's AL Rookie of the Month Award since Rocco Baldelli of the Tampa Bay Rays in 2003. Among AL rookies with at least 30 at-bats, Nomar finished first in runs scored, hits, home runs, RBI and walks (6), and second in batting average, slugging percentage (.491) and on-base percentage (.319).
In a 5-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on May 7th, Mazara followed Rougned Odor's leadoff home run with a homer of his own. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the young duo were the first pair of teammates under 23-years-old to start the first inning (top or bottom) with two consecutive home runs in the 141 seasons of Major League Baseball. On May 25th against the Los Angeles Angels at Globe Life Park, the Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic native went 2-for-5 with his second home run in as many games, and delivered three RBI. With multiple hits in six of his previous 10 contests, Mazara's 48 hits on the season were the most-ever for a Rangers player through his first 39 career games, three more than Bump Wills (1977). With a three-run home run during Memorial Day's away tilt against the Cleveland Indians, Mazara delivered his team-leading seventh home run for the month of May, the most homers for a Texas rookie in a single month since Chris Davis belted eight round-trippers in July 2008. The seven home runs are the most-ever for a Rangers rookie in May, one more than Pete Incaviglia in 1986, and it is the eighth time a Texas rookie has had more than seven home runs in any month. Entering play today, the 21-year-old outfielder ranks first among AL rookies in hits (52) and RBI (24), tied for first in home runs (9), second in runs scored (22) and on-base percentage (.344), and third in batting average (.299) and slugging percentage (.471). Helped in large part by their sensational rookie, the Rangers lead the AL West with a 31-22 record.
Others receiving votes for AL Rookie of the Month included Michael Feliz (3-1, 0.54 ERA, 16.2 IP, 26 SO) of the Houston Astros; Michael Fulmer (3-1, 4.03 ERA, 29.0 IP, 32 SO) of the Tigers; Whit Merrifield (.356, 10 R, 16 H, 5 2B) of the Kansas City Royals; and Joe Biagini (3-0, 0.63 ERA, 12 G, 10 SO) of the Toronto Blue Jays.
In recognition of his American League Rookie of the Month Award, Nomar Mazara will receive a specially designed trophy, suitably engraved, for his accomplishment.