KANSAS CITY -- The Kansas City Royals announced today that infielder/outfielder Whit Merrifield and right-handed pitcher Brad Keller have been named Royals Player and Pitcher of the Month, respectively, for the month of June. The awards are determined by a local media vote.
Merrifield led the Royals in hits (28), doubles (8), stolen bases (4), batting average (.298) and on-base percentage (.359) in June. He had 10 multi-hit games, including two three-hit efforts. Whit's RBI single on June 27 capped the Royals' five-run seventh inning and proved to be the deciding run in a 5-4 win in Milwaukee. He played in 25 of the Royals' 26 games, including starts at second base (11), center field (7), right field (3), first base (2) and designated hitter (2). This is Merrifield's first career Royals Player of the Month Award.
Keller led Royals starters with a 2.38 ERA (6 ER in 22.2 IP) in June, which ranked third among Major League rookies (min. 20 IP) behind Wilmer Font (1.80) and Tyler Mahle (2.18). He earned his first career win as a starter in a 2-0 victory vs. the Angels on June 25, in which-at 22 years, 333 days-he became the youngest Royal to win a start since the late Yordano Ventura (22.326) on April 25, 2014. He also became the youngest to throw 7.0 shutout innings in the American League since Chicago's Carlos Rodon (22.244) on Aug. 11, 2015, and is the second Royal with a start of at least 7.0 shutout innings and two hits or fewer within his first five career starts, joining Mel Stottlemeyer Jr. on Sept. 5, 1990. This is Keller's first Royals Pitcher of the Month Award, and he joins Jakob Junis (August 2017) as rookies to receive the honor in the last two seasons. Prior to 2017, the last rookie to win Royals Pitcher of the Month was Louis Coleman in July 2011. Keller is the youngest to earn the award as a starting pitcher since Zack Greinke did it as a 20-year-old in August and September of 2004.