TORONTO -- Nomar Mazara's hot start to the season has not gone unnoticed, as the Rangers outfielder was named American League Rookie of the Month for April on Monday.
Mazara, the club's No. 3 prospect per MLB Pipeline, hit .333 with two home runs, two doubles and seven RBIs in his first 17 games in the big leagues after his promotion from Triple-A Round Rock on April 10.
Mazara said he is more focused on the results of the team rather than his personal accolades, and says he is appreciative of being on a first-place club his first month in the Majors.
"It makes a big difference being on a winning team," Mazara said. "We have a great group of guys and we bring it every day. I want to use it as a start to the big things we're going to do this season."
Mazara has placed himself among the leaders in the American League through April, ranking fifth in average, 10th in on-base percentage and also finishing with an .852 OPS, the highest by a qualifying Texas rookie in the season's opening month.
Manager Jeff Banister believes it's just the start of a long and promising big league career for the young outfielder, who also finished second among AL rookies in average, hits and runs.
"It's a terrific honor for a 21-year-old," Banister said. "He continues to be that player every day. For each day that goes by, it's just another tick on the impressive scale. It's a nice recognition."
Mazara is the fifth Rangers rookie to win the AL Rookie of the Month Award in the past five seasons, joining Yu Darvish (April 2012), Justin Grimm (April 2013), Martin Perez (August 2013) and Delino DeShields (May 2015).
Worth Noting
• In addition to Mazara's award, Rangers Minor Leaguer Ryan Cordell was named the Texas League Player of the Month for April. Cordell hit .363 with five home runs and 22 RBIs in 21 games during the season's opening month for the Double-A Frisco RoughRiders. The 24-year-old finished April as the league leader in doubles (nine), runs (20), and slugging percentage (.688), reaching base in all 21 games.
• After aggravating his injured left knee Saturday while on a rehab assignment at Double-A Frisco, general manager Jon Daniels said outfielder Josh Hamilton will get treatment this week and continue to hit in the batting cages before being re-evaluated. Per MLB rules, Hamilton has to be shut down for at least five days before he can be sent back out for an additional rehab assignment.
"He described it to us as it's more than the pain, it's kind of a weakness," Daniels said. "He says it will buckle on him at times."
• Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish will make his second rehab start on Friday for Triple-A Round Rock against New Orleans. Darvish is expected to throw up to three innings and around 45 pitches. Darvish pitched two scoreless innings for Frisco on Sunday in his first start since March 2015.
"Our scout Mike Grouse was there," Daniels said. "He told us he looked like he was healthy, the ball was coming out of his hand really well. He's right where he should be."
• Outfielder Shin-Soo Choo ramped up his workouts on Monday in an effort to return from his right calf strain. While no date has been decided yet for a potential rehab assignment, Choo did some light work in the outfield on Sunday, and took batting practice with the team on Monday for the first time since injuring his calf. Choo is expected remain with the club on its seven-game trip and will receive another scan when the team returns to Arlington.