New York Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez has been voted the Budweiser Presents American League Player of the Month for August. Sanchez also received the most votes for the American League Rookie of the Month Award. Sanchez, who has claimed the past two Player of the Week Awards, is the first catcher to win Player and Rookie of the Month in the same month.
Budweiser, the official beer sponsor of Major League Baseball and sponsor of 24 of 30 clubs, is also the presenting sponsor of the National League Player of the Month Award.
Sanchez batted .389 (37-for-95) with 20 runs scored, nine doubles, 11 home runs, 21 RBI and a stolen base over 24 games en route to becoming the first player to win both Player and Rookie of the Month in the same month since Jose Abreu of the Chicago White Sox accomplished the feat in July 2014. Among AL leaders in August with a minimum of 80 at-bats, Gary finished first in slugging percentage (.832), second in home runs, extra-base hits (20) and on-base percentage (.458), third in batting average and tied for fifth in doubles. On August 27th against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium, the Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic native delivered his 11th home run in his 23rd career game. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the 23-year-old became the quickest player in Major League history to hit his first 11 home runs. His 11- homer month extended his Yankees rookie record for home runs in a calendar month. Ryan Braun of the Milwaukee Brewers was the last Major League rookie to launch 11 round-trippers in a month, doing so in July of his 2007 National League Rookie of the Yearwinning season. Since 1913, the 18 extra-base hits by Sanchez were the third-most by a Major Leaguer through 23 career games, trailing only Mandy Brooks of the Chicago Cubs (21) and Hall of Famer Joe DiMaggio of the Yankees (19). Propelled by their rookie's hot month at the plate, the Yankees went 17-11 in August, their best record in any month since going 17-7 in July 2015. Sanchez becomes the first backstop in Yankees history to win AL Player of the Month, which dates back to 1974. Brian Dozier of the Minnesota Twins also received a significant amount of votes following his excellent month. The 29-year-old hit .302 (38-for-126) with 27 runs scored, nine doubles, two triples, 13 home runs, 27 RBI and three stolen bases over 29 games. His 13 homers in August were the most in a single month by a Twins player since Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew set a single-month record with 14 round-trippers in June 1964. Others receiving votes for AL Player of the Month included Mookie Betts (.378, 8 2B, 9 HR, 27 RBI) and Dustin Pedroia (.406, 17 R, 41 H7 2B) of the Boston Red Sox; J.D. Martinez (.404, 21 R, 11 2B, 7 HR) of the Detroit Tigers; Jose Altuve (.333, 11 2B, 2 3B, 8 HR) of the Houston Astros; and Adrian Beltre (.333, 19 R, 7 2B, 9 HR, 24 RBI) of the Texas Rangers.
Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Corey Kluber has been voted the American League Pitcher of the Month for August.
Kluber compiled a 5-0 record with a 2.43 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 40.2 innings pitched over six starts to claim his second career AL Pitcher of the Month Award, last winning with the Tribe in September 2014. Among AL starters with a minimum of 30.0 innings pitched, Corey finished the period tied for first in wins, second in strikeouts and tied for fourth in ERA and innings pitched. On August 31st against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field, the 30-year-old veteran spun 8.0 innings of three-run ball, while striking out 11 batters and permitting just two walks. The outing was his second of the 2016 campaign, and 23rd of his career, in which he struck out 10-or-more batters. With 10 consecutive quality starts dating back to July 8th, the 2014 AL Cy Young Award winner established a new personal record, while also becoming the first Indians pitchers to record 10 straight quality starts since Cliff Lee in 2009. With the win against the Twins, Kluber logged his seventh consecutive win, spanning 10 starts from July 8th-August 31st. During this notable stretch, the 2016 AL All-Star has recorded 75 strikeouts and 19 walks over 69.2 innings pitched, while pitching to the tune of a 1.94 ERA. Led in large part by their staff ace, the Indians currently sit atop the AL Central with a 77-56 record. Danny Duffy of the Kansas City Royals also logged an impressive month of August, going 5-1 with a 2.51 ERA and 39 strikeouts over 43.0 innings pitched. On August 1st against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field, the 27-year-old southpaw joined Hall of Famer Randy Johnson as the only two lefthanded pitchers in the past 100 years to fan at least 16 hitters, while allowing no more than one hit. Others receiving votes for AL Pitcher of the Month included Carlos Rodon (3-0, 1.47 ERA, 30.2 IP, 26 SO) and Chris Sale (2.89 ERA, 2 CG, 46.2 IP, 52 SO) of the Chicago White Sox; Rick Porcello (4-1, 2.62 ERA, 1 CG, 41 SO) of the Red Sox; Ian Kennedy (3-0, 1.86 ERA, 38.2 IP, 31 SO) of the Royals; Justin Verlander (3-1, 2.43 ERA, 40.2 IP, 43 SO) of the Detroit Tigers; Edwin Diaz (3.95 ERA, 11 SV, 13 G, 21 SO) of the Seattle Mariners; and Jake Odorizzi (4-0, 2.48 ERA, 36.1 IP, 31 SO) of the Tampa Bay Rays.
All three August monthly award winners will receive a specially designed trophy, suitably engraved, in recognition of their accomplishments.