Globe iconLogin iconRecap iconSearch iconTickets icon

Chris Owings of the Arizona Diamondbacks voted National League Rookie of the Month for April

Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Chris Owings has been voted the National League Rookie of the Month for April.

Owings paced N.L. rookies in hitting through the first month of the season, posting a .313 (26-for-83) batting average during March/April. The D-backs first round selection in the 2009 Draft (41st overall) also led N.L. rookies with five doubles, six extra-base hits, 26 hits and 28 games. Owings swiped four bases, which was good for second among N.L. rookies, and was tied for second with seven runs scored. On April 29th, the 22-year-old native of Charleston, South Carolina went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI in a 5-4 loss to the visiting Colorado Rockies. It was Owings' seventh multi-hit performance of the 2014 campaign. The youngster clubbed his first career triple as part of a 2-for-3 effort on April 27th vs. Philadelphia. On April 13th, Owings reached base in all four of his plate appearances on the day, going 3-for-3 with a walk in an 8-6 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. This is his first career monthly award and marks the second time that a Diamondbacks hitter has been voted N.L. Rookie of the Month. Owings joins Gerardo Parra, who was named N.L. Rookie of the Month in May 2009. Diamondbacks hurlers Daniel Hudson (August 2010) and Wade Miley (April 2012) have also won the award.

Other rookies receiving votes included Atlanta Braves pitcher David Hale (1-0, 2.10 ERA, 17 SO, 25.2 IP); Rockies pitcher Tommy Kahnle (2-1, 1.93 ERA, 14.0 IP, 13 SO); Cincinnati Reds outfielder Billy Hamilton (.245, 13 R, 23 H, 3B, HR, 6 RBI, 11 SB); and Pittsburgh Pirates backstop Tony Sanchez (.225, 5 R, 16 H, 5 RBI, 2B, 3B, 3 SB).

The National League Rookie of the Month for April, Chris Owings, will receive a specially designed trophy, suitably engraved, to commemorate his performance.