Posting a .339 batting average with five doubles, two triples, eight home runs, eight walks, 18 RBI and 15 stolen bases in the final month of his rookie regular season, Nationals infielder/outfielder Trea Turner earned his second consecutive National League Rookie of the Month award. The honor, which comes on the heels of Turner taking home the award for August as well, was announced by Major League Baseball on Monday afternoon.
Turner finished the regular season hitting .342 with 14 doubles, eight triples, 13 home runs and 40 RBI. The Nationals' electric rookie collected 105 hits and stole 33 bases in just 73 games. In doing so, Turner became the first rookie in franchise history (Nationals/Expos) to post more than 100 hits in fewer than 100 games. According to Baseball Reference, Turner is also the only rookie in Major League history (since 1900) to record at least 13 home runs, 33 stolen bases and post an average of .340 or better in no more than 73 games.
After the All-Star break, Turner led the Major Leagues in triples (8), and ranks in the National League in stolen bases (2nd, 33), hits (2nd, 102), total bases (3rd, 170), runs scored (T5th, 53), and batting average (5th, .340). According to the Elias Sports Bureau, only three rookies in Major League history have hit as high as .340 with as many as 13 home runs after the All-Star break - putting Turner in some esteemed company: Hal Trosky (CLE, 1934: .349, 19 HR), Ted Williams (BOS, 1939: .345, 19 HR) and Willie McCovey (SFG, 1959: .354, 13 HR).
September/October was just more of the same from Turner, whose .342 batting average this season is the highest by any rookie with at least 290 at-bats since Ichiro Suzuki hit .350 for Seattle in his first Major League season in 2001. His 33 stolen bases are also the most by a rookie in Nationals history (2005-present) and the fourth-most by any rookie in franchise history (Nationals/Expos), behind only: Tim Raines (71, 1981), Larry Lintz (50, 1974) and Delino DeShields (42,1990). In addition, his 33 stolen bases are the third-most in club history, regardless of service time, behind only Alfonso Soriano (41, 2006) and Nyjer Morgan (34, 2010).
This is the second monthly award for Turner, and just the fifth Rookie of the Month award bestowed upon a Nationals player in team history (2005-present). Turner (Aug. & Sept./Oct., 2016) joins Harper (May and Sept./Oct. 2012), and Ryan Church (May, 2005) as the only Nationals rookies ever to take home the monthly award. Turner also joins Harper, who earned Player of the Month honors in April, second baseman Daniel Murphy (Player of the Month: May and July), and right-hander Stephen Strasburg (Pitcher of the Month, July) as Nationals monthly honorees this season.