Astros' Gerrit Cole and Yordan Alvarez Earn MLB Monthly Honors for June Performance
By Parker White
Major League Baseball announced their monthly winners for June, and a couple of members of the Houston Astros made the list.
All-Star right-hander Gerrit Cole has been announced as the American League Pitcher of the Month for June, and outfielder Yordan Alvarez has been named the American League Rookie of the Month.
Major League Baseball announced today that Astros RHP Gerrit Cole has been named American League Pitcher of the Month for June and that Astros OF Yordan Alvarez has been named AL Rookie of the Month for June.
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) July 3, 2019
Both players are deserving of the respective achievements. In six June starts, Cole posted a 3-0 record with a 1.89 ERA and had 49 strikeouts over 38 innings. He held opponents to a .210 batting average in June with a 1.03 WHIP.
Gerrit Cole, AL Pitcher of the Month:
— Astros Stats (@astro_numbers) July 3, 2019
38 IP, 1.89 ERA, 3.29 FIP, 1.03 WHIP, 32.5% K, 6.6% BB
Yordan Alvarez, AL Rookie of the Month:
.317/.406/.733, 7 HR, 21 RBI, 13% BB, 23.2% K, 196 wRC+
Alvarez didn't even play a full month, but in just 16 games he wowed fans with his monster power. In 60 at-bats, the 22-year-old outfielder slashed .317/.406/.733 with 7 home runs and 21 RBI.
Despite being a slugger, Alvarez walked nine times and struck out in just 16 of his plate appearances. He's not just a free-swinger looking to go bridge every time up. Alvarez is just a continuation of young players who are making an immediate impact for contending teams.
Houston currently paces the American League with its 54 wins (on par with the Yankees), and credit has to be given to Cole, who has been dominant on the mound, and Alvarez who took the league by storm with his power at the plate.