Jose Abreu of the Chicago White Sox named the Budweiser Presents American League Player of the Month and the American League Rookie of the Month for July

Chicago White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu has been voted the Budweiser Presents American League Player of the Month for July.

This is Jose's second Player of the Month honor, also winning in April when he joined Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig (June 2013) as the only two players since the award's 1974 inception to win in their first month in the Majors. Budweiser, the official beer sponsor of Major League Baseball and sponsor of 24 of 30 Clubs, is also the presenting sponsor of the National League Player of the Month Award.

Along with being named as the league's top player, Abreu also claimed his third American League Rookie of the Month Award. The 27-year-old was also tabbed as the league's top rookie in April and June. He was the eighth player ever to win both the Player/Pitcher of the Month Award and the Rookie of the Month Award in the same calendar month back in April and is now the first player in history to accomplish the feat twice
in the same season. In addition, he becomes the fourth player to win a Rookie of the Month Award at least three times in a single season, joining Ichiro Suzuki (five times, 2001); Mike Trout (four times, 2012); and Jason Bay (three times, 2004).

Abreu batted .374 (37-for-99) with 11 doubles, six homers, 19 RBI, 10 walks and 12 runs scored in 25 games, leading the A.L. in batting average, doubles, slugging percentage (.667), total bases (66), extra-base hits (17) and times on base (48). Additionally, Jose finished second in on-base percentage (.432) and tied for fourth in homers and RBI.

The Cuban native hit safely in 24 of his 25 games during the month, only going hitless in a 3-2 loss to Felix Hernandez and the Seattle Mariners on July 5th. Jose compiled a career-best 21-game hitting streak between July 6th-August 1st (the longest in the A.L. this season), in which he batted .429 (36-for-84) with 11 doubles, four homers and 15 RBI. It was the longest hitting streak for the White Sox since Carlos Lee's Club-record 28-game run during the 2004 season. Additionally, Abreu is the first Major Leaguer with a pair of hitting streaks of at least 18 games in the same campaign since Jacoby Ellsbury (19 and 18) in 2011 and is the first rookie to do so since Suzuki (23 and 21) in 2001. He is the first White Sox player to accomplish the feat since Hall of Famer Eddie Collins (21 and 22) in 1920. The right-handed-hitting Abreu notched three games with at
least three RBI over the month, including a four-RBI tally in an 11-4 victory over the Detroit Tigers on July 29th at Comerica Park. Heading into play today, the 2014 All-Star is batting .304 with 28 doubles, 31 homers and 84 RBI in 97 games, leading the Majors in homers and RBI. He also leads all hitters with a .627 slugging percentage and ranks second with 239 total bases.

Others receiving A.L. Player of the Month votes included Detroit's Torii Hunter (.364, 6 HR, 24 RBI) and J.D. Martinez (.345, 5 HR, 15 RBI); Houston's Chris Carter (.289, 8 HR, 19 RBI); Toronto's Jose Bautista (.263, 6 HR, 14 RBI); and Cleveland's Carlos Santana (.313, 8 HR, 20 RBI). Starting pitchers Marcus Stroman (3-0, 1.71 ERA, 31.2 IP, 8 BB, 31 SO) of the Toronto Blue Jays and Jake Odorizzi (4-1, 2.90 ERA, 31.0 IP, 8 BB, 32 SO) of the Tampa Bay Rays also received consideration for A.L. Rookie of the Month.

In recognition of his Budweiser Presents American League Player of the Month Award and his American League Rookie of the Month Award, Jose Abreu will receive two specially designed trophies, suitably engraved, for his accomplishments.