Jose Abreu named AL Player and Rookie of the Month

Chicago White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu has been named American League Player and Rookie of the Month for July, the second time this season he has won both honors in the same month.

Abreu, 27, batted .374 (37-99) with 11 doubles, six home runs, 19 RBI, a .432 on-base percentage and .667 slugging percentage in 25 games. He led the AL in average, doubles, slugging percentage, OPS (1.099), extra-base hits (17) and total bases (66) while hitting safely in 24 of 25 games during the month.

Abreu becomes the first rookie in major-league history to be named Player of the Month twice in one season and the fourth player to be named Rookie of the month three or more times, joining Ichiro Suzuki (four in 2001), Mike Trout (four in 2012) and Jason Bay (three in 2004).

He joins Frank Thomas (1994 and 1996) and Albert Belle (1998) as the only White Sox players to win Player of the Month honors twice in one season and is the only player in franchise history to be named Rookie of the Month more than once.

Despite missing 14 games this season while on the disabled list, Abreu leads the major leagues in home runs (31), RBI (84), slugging percentage (.627), at-bats per home run (12.29) and at-bats per RBI (4.54) and ranks among the leaders in OPS (2nd, .988), extra-base hits (2nd, 60), total bases (239). He also has compiled hitting streaks of 18 and 21 games, becoming the first rookie since Ichiro Suzuki in 2001 to accomplish the feat and the second player in White Sox history (Eddie Collins in 1920).Abreu is on pace to hit 45 home runs, which would be the second-highest total in White Sox history, and drive in 122 runs. His 31 home runs rank third in major-league history by a player in his first 97 games, trailing only Mark McGwire (36 in 1986-87) and Rudy York (33 in 1930), and his 84 RBI rank sixth.

Abreu is attempting to become the sixth player in White Sox history to win AL Rookie of the Year honors and first since Ozzie Guillen in 1985. He also is trying to become the third player in franchise history to lead the AL in home runs, joining Bill Melton (1971) and Dick Allen (1972 and '74), and the second to lead the league in RBI (Allen in 1972).