Kris Bryant named NL Player of the Month for August … Cubs take home Player and Pitcher of the Month Awards … Kyle Hendricks named NL Pitcher of the Month for August
Major League Baseball announced its monthly awards for both leagues Saturday. Kris Bryant was named National League Player of the Month for August. And Kyle Hendricks received the NL Pitcher of the Month Award.
Kris Bryant had an unbelievable month of August at the plate as he separated himself from teammate, and business partner, Anthony Rizzo in the NL MVP conversation.
Bryant played in 27 games as the Cubs set or tied franchise records for wins in a single month. Bryant hit .383/.472/.748 with seven doubles and 10 home runs for a 1.220 OPS. Bryant scored 29 runs, had 22 RBI and walked (15) six fewer times than he struck out (21) in 107 at bats.
Bryant led the league in slugging percentage (.748), ranked third in batting average (.383), second in on-base percentage (.472) and second in home runs (10) in August.
After hitting .286/.384/.578 with 21 doubles and 25 home runs for a .962 OPS in the first half, Bryant has turned it up in the second half of the season. In his last 46 games, Bryant has hit .343/.434/.597 with 11 doubles, a triple and 11 home runs for a 1.031 OPS.
For the season, Kris Bryant is batting .306/.402/.584 with 32 doubles, a triple and 36 home runs for a .986 OPS. Bryant has 91 RBI and has scored 112 runs in 132 games. And Bryant has put up the numbers while playing six different positions this season.
Trea Turner (Nationals) was the NL Rookie of the Month for August. The Yankees’ Gary Sanchez was named both the AL Player of the Month and AL Rookie of the Month for August. Corey Kluber (Indians) was named the AL Pitcher of the Month for August.
Kris Bryant and Kyle Hendricks join Jake Arrieta (April) and Jon Lester (June) as the four Cubs that have won NL Player or Pitcher of the Month Awards this season.