Encarnacion wins AL Player of the Month
Blue Jays slugger honored with award after collecting hit in every game he played
TORONTO -- The accolades continue to roll in for the red-hot Edwin Encarnacion, as the Blue Jays' slugger was named the American League Player of the Month for August on Wednesday afternoon.
Encarnacion had at least one hit in each game he played during August, and he finished the month with a .407 average (35-for-86) to go along with 11 homers, 35 RBIs, 10 doubles and 23 runs scored.
It's the second time that Encarnacion has earned AL Player of the Month honors after an equally impressive May 2014. The latest award came on the heels of the AL Player of the Week honors that he earned on Monday, and it shows just how impressive his recent stretch has been.
"What can I say? Eddie's good," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "We saw him do it last year, too, so I can't say it necessarily surprises me, to be honest with you."
Video: DET@TOR: Gibbons on Encarnacion's three-homer day
Encarnacion ranked first in the AL in average, slugging percentage (.907) and extra-base hits (21). He also tied for first in doubles and RBIs, was second in on-base percentage (.460) and tied for second in home runs with teammate Josh Donaldson.
The Dominican Republic native carried a 26-game hitting streak through August that was snapped during Tuesday night's 5-3 victory over the Indians. He fell two games short of the Blue Jays' record set in 1999 by Shawn Green, but is now tied with Shannon Stewart for the second spot. Encarnacion's hitting streak was the longest in the American League since Ichiro Suzuki had one that lasted 27 games in 2009.
The 35 RBIs broke the previous franchise record for any month, which belonged to Carlos Delgado, who had 32 in June 2003. It's the most RBIs in a month by any Major Leaguer since Troy Tulowitzki had 40 in September/October 2010. Since 2000, only Philadelphia's Ryan Howard (41 in 2006) and Sammy Sosa of the Chicago Cubs (36 in 2001) have had more RBIs in August.
Donaldson also received some consideration for the monthly award after hitting .324 with 11 homers, 35 RBIs and 29 runs. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Encarnacion and Donaldson became the first teammates to hit at least 10 home runs with 35 RBIs in a single month since Babe Ruth (10 homers and 41 RBIs) and Lou Gehrig (11 homers and 41 RBIs) did it in 1931.
For the Budweiser Presents American League Player of the Month, Encarnacion will receive a specially designed trophy for his accomplishment.