The first official month of the 2014 MLB season is in the books and boy, what a start it has been. We have seen it all: walk-off grand slams, replay controversy, cheating that hasn’t involved performance enhancement drugs, and a new member into the 500-homerun club. April has surely made this a memorable start for the 2014 season. Let’s take a look at the Players of the Month for April.
AL Player of the Month – Mike Trout
Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout is well on his well to establishing himself once again in the MVP race come season’s end with outstanding play in the first month of the 2014 season. While once again the Angels are underachieving to start this season, Trout’s play has definitely been a bright spot. The team will certainly need him if they are to make a run at dethroning the A’s in the AL West. Trout has put together quite a start to the season with a .321 batting average, .408 OBP, .596 SLG, 2.4 WAR, and has added 6 home runs and 21 RBI. He is April’s standout player of the month.
AL Pitcher of the Month – Sonny Gray
Oakland Athletics pitcher Sonny Gray has started the 2014 season just like he ended 2013–hot. Gray is proving that not only is he the best young arm in the league but one of the more dominate pitchers in the league, and his first month of work can definitely back that up. In the six games he took the mound, Gray has complied 4 wins to 1 loss, 37 SO, 1.76 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 1.3 WAR. Those stats make him the AL standout pitcher of the month.
AL Rookie of the Month – Marahrio Tanaka
We all know who New York Yankees pitcher Marahrio Tanaka was and what he accomplished last year in Japan. Tanaka put up numbers that were just downright unfair and his hope was to bring that dominance to America. And so far he has. Many fans were on the fence about Tanaka and how he would match up against MLB hitters. I think whatever doubt people had about him they can pretty much throw that out. With 3 wins and no losses, 46 SO, 2.27 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, and 1.3 WAR, Marahrio is not only April’s standout rookie of the month, but you might see him take home a few more awards come season’s end.
NL Player of the Month – Troy Tulowitzki
One can say that Colorado Rockies SS Troy Tulowitzki is an early frontrunner for the NL MVP with his play in the first month of the season. Yes, it’s early and there are still many games to go, but Tulowitzki’s play cannot be understated. Tulowizki’s play has been nothing short of spectacular with a .364 batting average, .477 OBP, .727 SLG, 2.3 WAR, and has added 7 home runs and 22 RBI. His sizzling play has made him the NL standout player of the month.
NL Pitcher of the Month – Johnny Cueto
Johnny Cueto has shown this season why he is the ace for the Cincinnati Reds. While the Reds are underachieving the start of the season, one can say Cueto has been doing his part in trying to score wins for the Reds. Unfortunately his run support has not been there so far this season. Through the month of April, Cueto’s numbers are monstrous: 50 SO, 1.15 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, and a 2.4 WAR. He is an easy pick for NL standout pitcher of the Month.
NL Rookie of the Month – Chris Owings
The NL rookie class so far has not been as deep as the AL, yet Arizona Diamondbacks SS Chris Owings might be an exception. Owings won the starting SS in the spring and his play at the plate is probably the only bright spot for a Diamondbacks team that is off to an awful start. Through the month of April, Owings has compiled a .305 AVG, .379 SLG, and a .738 OPS, making him April’s NL standout rookie of the month.
April has definitely set a standard that will be hard to top as we move forward in the 2014 season. While it’s too early to tell whether these individuals will be in the hunt for an award at seasons end, their play in April has certainly given them a comfortable head start.
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