Chicago Cubs rookie slugger Anthony Rizzo has been smashing the ball all over MLB ballparks for a while now, and on Thursday he received National League Rookie of the Month honors for July. Rizzo posted a .330 batting average, .375 on-base percentage, .567 slugging percentage and .942 OPS while smacking seven home runs and driving in 17 runs over 25 games.
Here is a bit more historical context on Rizzo's level of play during the month of July, via the Cubs' official press release:
Rizzo tied Gene Baker (1954) for the most home runs by a Cubs rookie during the month of July and the seven homers were the most in a calendar month by a Cubs rookie since Mel Hall's nine round-trippers in August 1983.
Rizzo beat out the following rookies who also received votes for their performances in the month of July:
- Milwaukee Brewers starter Michael Fiers (1-2, 1.01 ERA, 26 SO, 26.2 IP)
- Cincinnati Reds utilityman Todd Frazier (.306, 3 2B, 5 HR, 15 RBI)
- San Diego Padres first baseman Yonder Alonso (.290, 11 2B, 3 HR, 19 RBI, .505 SLG, .368 OBP)
- Colorado Rockies shortstop Josh Rutledge (.381, 6 2B, 3 HR, 11 RBI, 3 SB, .683 SLG, .394 OBP)
- New York Mets outfielder-second baseman Jordany Valdespin (.347, 5 HR, 10 RBI, .653 SLG, .373 OBP)
- Washington Nationals utilityman Steve Lombardozzi (.293, 29 H, 3 2B, 3B, HR, 12 RBI)
- Arizona Diamondbacks All-Star left-hander Wade Miley (3-2, 3.31 ERA, 29.0 SO, 32.2 IP)
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