Bryce Harper of the Washington Nationals voted National League Rookie of the Month for September
Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper has been voted National League Rookie of the Month for the month of September.
In 28 September contests, Harper led the Majors with 26 runs scored while ranking second among all National Leaguers with a .651 slugging percentage and 69 total bases. Harper's seven homers and 35 hits ranked first among N.L. rookies, while his .330 (35-for-106) batting average was good for second. The 19-year-old added seven doubles, three triples and 14 RBI to his monthly totals along with four stolen bases. The first overall pick in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft played a key role in Washington's 16-12 record during the month of September, playing in all 28 games of the N.L. East Division Champion's stretch run. Harper notched his second career multi-homer game in Washington's September 5th victory over the visiting Chicago Cubs. On September 11th, the Nevada native collected a career-high four hits in a 5-3 victory over the New York Mets at Citi Field. It was one of 11 multi-hit efforts Harper recorded for the month. The left-handed slugger hit safely in six consecutive games to finish the month (seven through October 1st), including a span of five straight multi-hit performances from September 25th-29th. On September 30th, Harper clubbed his 22nd homer of the season, the second highest single-season total by a teenager in Major League history behind Tony Conigliaro's 24 home runs as a Red Sox rookie in 1964. With 97 runs this season, Harper has already scored more than any rookie in franchise history, including its Montreal roots. He joins Nomar Garciaparra (Boston, 1997) as the only rookies in the modern era to post at least 90 runs, nine triples, 20 home runs and 15 stolen bases. Harper, who also garnered Rookie of the Month honors in May, becomes the first rookie in franchise history to earn the award twice in a single season.
Other rookies receiving votes included Milwaukee's Nori Aoki (.295, 21 R, 33 H, 13 2B, 4 HR, 18 RBI), Jim Henderson (0-0, 2.77 ERA, 18 SO, 13.0 IP) and Wily Peralta (2-1, 2.25 ERA, 22 SO, 28.0 IP); Pete Kozma (.349, 11 R, 2 HR, 14 RBI, .619 SLG) of the St. Louis Cardinals; Colorado's Wilin Rosario (.333, 16 R, 4 HR, 13 RBI, .505 SLG); and Miami's Donovan Solano (.311, 13 R, 33 H, 2 HR, 13 RBI).
The National League Rookie of the Month for September, Bryce Harper, will receive a specially designed trophy, suitably engraved, to commemorate his performance.