Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers named the Budweiser Presents American League Player of the Month for August

Detroit Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera has been voted the Budweiser Presents American League Player of the Month for August. Budweiser, the official beer sponsor of Major League Baseball and sponsor of 23 of 30 clubs, is also the presenting sponsor of the National League Player of the Month Award.

Cabrera batted .357 (35-for-98) with six doubles, eight home runs, 24 RBI, 19 runs scored and 12 walks in 26 games to capture his second career monthly award, previously winning during his first season in Detroit in July 2008. It marks the 11th time a Tiger has captured the league’s Player of the Month honor since the award’s inception in 1975, with Cabrera joining Alan Trammell as the only repeat winners in franchise history. Among league leaders, the third baseman was second in homers and slugging percentage (.663), tied for second in RBI, third in on-base percentage (.429), tied for third in total bases (65) and ranked fourth in batting average.

The right-handed-hitting Cabrera went 2-for-4 with two walks, a homer and three RBI on August 5th as the Tigers defeated the Cleveland Indians, 10-8, in 10 innings at Comerica Park to complete a three-game sweep. Two days later in Detroit, the 29-year-old doubled, homered and collected three RBI as the Tigers held off the New York Yankees, 6-5, for a season-high-tying sixth straight win.

On August 31st, Cabrera went 3-for-4 with a double, a homer, two RBI and two runs scored as the Tigers topped the Chicago White Sox, 7-4, in a battle for the A.L. Central Division crown. Cabrera’s seven total bases on the night gave him 300 for the season, the fifth consecutive year he has reached the plateau to establish a new franchise mark. Detroit went on for a three-game sweep of Chicago.

Heading into play today, Miguel ranks in the top five in the Triple Crown categories, placing second in batting average (.331) and RBI (111) and tied for fifth in homers (33). Additionally, he leads the A.L. in slugging (.588) and total bases (304), is second in hits (171) and is fourth in runs scored (87) and on-base percentage (.398). Since joining the Tigers prior to the 2008 season, the 10-year-veteran has been among the A.L.’s best hitters, leading the league in homers, RBI, extra-base hits, total bases, slugging percentage and intentional walks and placing second in batting average, on-base percentage, hits, runs and walks over the five-year stretch.

Others receiving votes included Cabrera’s teammate Prince Fielder (.370, 7 HR, 21 RBI); Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim first baseman Albert Pujols (.312, 9 HR, 24 RBI); Texas Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre (.333, 7 HR, 21 RBI); Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter (.350, 6 HR, 16 RBI); and Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia (.342, 12 2B, 3 HR, 15 RBI).

In recognition for his Budweiser Presents American League Player of the Month Award, Miguel Cabrera will receive a specially designed trophy, suitably engraved, for his accomplishment.