The Kansas City Royals announced that outfielder Paulo Orlando has been named Royals Majestic Player of the Month and right-handed pitcher Ian Kennedy is the Pitcher of the Month for May. The player award is determined by a combined fan and media vote, with the pitcher award voted on by local media.
Orlando hit .429 (27-for-63) in May, which tied for the best batting average in the Majors. He ended the month on a career-high 14-game hitting streak in which he hit .444 (24-for-54). Orlando matched career highs with three hits and four RBI on May 17, a game in which he became the third No. 9 hitter in Royals history to record a triple and a home run in the same game. This is his first career Royals Player of the Month honor.
Kennedy went 2-1 with a 3.24 ERA (12 ER in 33.1 IP) in six May starts, holding opponents to a .214 average. The Royals went 5-1 in his starts, including a 7-0 win at Cleveland on May 7 in which he recorded 7.0 shutout innings, and his May 30 start vs. Tampa Bay in which he held the Rays to one unearned run in 6.0 innings. His 9.72 strikeouts-per-nine ratio in May ranked fifth among A.L. starting pitchers behind Danny Salazar, Cole Hamels, Michael Fulmer and Chris Sale. This is his first career Royals Pitcher of the Month honor.
Fans have the opportunity to vote for the Royals Majestic Player of the Month all season long by visiting area Kansas Sampler and Rally House locations or the Royals Majestic Team Store at Kauffman Stadium. Participating fans will automatically be entered to win a VIP Experience package which includes an apparel prize pack, tickets to a Royals game and the opportunity to present the Player of the Month award.