Rookie of the Month Award

Rookie of the Month Award

The Rookie of the Month Award was first given by Major League Baseball in 2001 to the rookie who statistically stood out from all the rest during the month.

Gillette, a valued business partner of Major League Baseball since 1939, is now - starting in 2007 - the presenting sponsor of the MLB Rookie of the Month Award which recognizes the top performing rookie in both the American League and National League. The MLB Rookie of the Month Award presented by Gillette is an on-going multiplatform marketing campaign involving Gillette, Major League Baseball and Major League Baseball Advanced Media.

Source: MLB.com (link).

"It's not usually my defense that gets recognized. My goal is to play solid defense rather than putting an emphasis on flashy play. Looking back, after playing nine years in Japan, I was a little embarrassed to be called a 'rookie' here in the U.S., but this was my first time playing in the U.S. except time I spent playing winter ball in Hawaii, so I was a rookie this year." - Ichiro Suzuki in USA Today (Seth Livingstone, 11/21/2001)

Rookie of the Month Award Rookie of the Month Award Official Logo by Gillette In Chronological Order
Year	Month	American League^(Team)	Pos	P.R.	National League^(Team)	Pos	P.R.
2001	April	Ichiro Suzuki^(Mariners)	RF	--	Albert Pujols^(Cardinals)	1B	--
	May	Ichiro Suzuki^(Mariners)	RF	--	Albert Pujols^(Cardinals)	1B	--
	June	Ichiro Suzuki^(Mariners)	RF	--	Ben Sheets^(Brewers)	P	--
	July	CC Sabathia^(Indians)	P	--	Pedro Feliz^(Giants)	3B	--
	August	Ichiro Suzuki^(Mariners)	RF	--	Roy Oswalt^(Astros)	P	--
	September	Ichiro Suzuki^(Mariners)	RF	--	Bud Smith^(Cardinals)	P	--
2002	April	Carlos Pena^(Athletics)	1B		Kazuhisa Ishii^(Dodgers)	P
	May	Ryan Drese^(Indians)	P		Austin Kearns^(Reds)	OF
	June	Eric Hinske^{(Blue Jays)}	3B		Jason Simontacchi^(Cardinals)	P
	July	Rodrigo Lopez^(Orioles)	P		Kirk Saarloos^(Astros)	P
	August	Josh Phelps^{(Blue Jays)}	DH		Jason Jennings^(Rockies)	P
	September	Josh Phelps^{(Blue Jays)}	DH		Endy Chavez^(Expos)	OF
2003	April	Rocco Baldelli^{(Devil Rays)}	CF		Hee-Sop Choi^(Cubs)	1B
	May	Rocco Baldelli^{(Devil Rays)}	CF		Xavier Nady^(Padres)	RF
	June	Hideki Matsui^(Yankees)	LF		Dontrelle Willis^(Marlins)	P
	July	Angel Berroa^(Royals)	SS		Miguel Cabrera^(Marlins)	3B
	August	Rafael Soriano^(Mariners)	P		Scott Podsednik^(Brewers)	CF
	September	Reed Johnson^{(Blue Jays)}	OF		Miguel Cabrera^(Marlins)	3B
2004	April	Gerald Laird^(Rangers)	C		Khalil Greene^(Padres)	SS
	May	Kevin Youkilis^{(Red Sox)}	3B		Terrmel Sledge^(Expos)	OF
	June	Bobby Crosby^(Athletics)	SS		Jason Bay^(Pirates)	LF
	July	Robb Quinlan^(Angels)	IF		Jason Bay^(Pirates)	LF
	August	Frank Francisco^(Rangers)	P		Khalil Greene^(Padres)	SS
	September	Ross Gload^{(White Sox)}	OF/1B		Jason Bay^(Pirates)	LF
2005	April	Gustavo Chacin^{(Blue Jays)}	P		Clint Barmes^(Rockies)	SS
	May	Damon Hollins^{( Devil Rays)}	OF		Ryan Church^(Nationals)	OF
	June	Joe Blanton^(Athletics)	P		Garrett Atkins^(Rockies)	3B
	July	Gustavo Chacin^{(Blue Jays)}	P		Zach Duke^(Pirates)	P
	August	Joe Blanton^(Athletics)	P		Zach Duke^(Pirates)	P
	September	Robinson Cano^(Yankees)	2B		Ryan Howard^(Phillies)	1B
2006	April	Jonathan Papelbon^{(Red Sox)}	P		Prince Fielder^(Brewers)	1B
	May	Justin Verlander^(Tigers)	P		Josh Johnson^(Marlins)	P
	June	Francisco Liriano^(Twins)	P		Josh Johnson^(Marlins)	P
	June	Francisco Liriano^(Twins)	P		Dan Uggla^(Marlins)	2B
	July	Francisco Liriano^(Twins)	P		Josh Barfield^(Padres)	2B
	August	Nick Markakis^(Orioles)	OF		Chris Duncan^(Cardinals)	OF
	September	Boof Bonser^(Twins)	P		Anibal Sanchez^(Marlins)	P
2007	April	Hideki Okajima^{(Red Sox)}	P		Josh Hamilton^(Reds)	OF
	May	Dustin Pedroia^{(Red Sox)}	2B		Hunter Pence^(Astros)	OF
	June	Brian Bannister^(Royals)	P		Ryan Braun^(Brewers)	3B
	July	Billy Butler^(Royals)	IF/DH		Ryan Braun^(Brewers)	3B
	August	Brian Bannister^(Royals)	P		Troy Tulowitzki^(Rockies)	SS
	September	Jacoby Ellsbury^{(Red Sox)}	OF		James Loney^(Dodgers)	1B
2008	April	David Murphy^(Rangers)	CF		Geovany Soto^(Cubs)	C
	May	Aaron Laffey^(Indians)	P		Blake DeWitt^(Dodgers)	3B
	June	Evan Longoria^(Rays)	3B		Jair Jurrjens^(Braves)	P
	July	Chris Davis^(Rangers)	1B		Ian Stewart^(Rockies)	3B
	August	Alexei Ramirez^{(White Sox)}	2B		Geovany Soto^(Cubs)	C
	September	Scott Lewis^(Indians)	P		Joey Votto^(Reds)	1B
2009	April	Scott Richmond^{(Blue Jays)}	P		Brian Barden^(Cardinals)	IF
	May	Rick Porcello^(Tigers)	P	--	Gerardo Parra^{(Diamondbacks)}	RF	--
	June	Nolan Reimold^(Orioles)	OF		Tommy Hanson^(Braves)	P
	July	Gordon Beckham^{(White Sox)}	3B		Garrett Jones^(Pirates)	OF
	August	Andrew Bailey^(Athletics)	RP		Chris Coghlan^(Marlins)	OF
	September	Brett Anderson^(Athletics)	P	--	Casey McGehee^(Brewers)	3B	--
2010	April	Austin Jackson^(Tigers)	CF	--	Jason Heyward^(Braves)	RF
	May	Brennan Boesch^(Tigers)	OF		Jason Heyward^(Braves)	RF
	June	Brennan Boesch^(Tigers)	OF		Gaby Sanchez^(Marlins)	1B
	July	Wade Davis^(Rays)	P		Buster Posey^(Giants)	C
	August	Brian Matusz^(Orioles)	P		Daniel Hudson^{(Diamondbacks)}	P
	September	Neftali Feliz^(Rangers)	P		Pedro Alvarez^(Pirates)	3B
2011	April	Michael Pineda^(Mariners)	P		Darwin Barney^(Cubs)	IF
	May	Jeremy Hellickson^(Rays)	P		Justin Turner^(Mets)	IF
	June	Ben Revere^(Twins)	OF		Craig Kimbrel^(Braves)	RP
	June	Jemile Weeks^(Athletics)	2B		Craig Kimbrel^(Braves)	RP
	July	Eric Hosmer^(Royals)	1B		Freddie Freeman^(Braves)	1B
	August	Mike Carp^(Mariners)	1B		Craig Kimbrel^(Braves)	RP
	September	Eric Hosmer^(Royals)	1B		Dee Gordon^(Dodgers)	SS
2012	April	Yu Darvish^(Rangers)	P	--	Wade Miley^{(Diamondbacks)}	P
	May	To Be Determined^(06-2012)	--	--	To Be Determined^(06-2012)	--	--
	June	To Be Determined^(07-2012)	--	--	To Be Determined^(07-2012)	--	--
	July	To Be Determined^(08-2012)	--	--	To Be Determined^(08-2012)	--	--
	August	To Be Determined^(09-2012)	--	--	To Be Determined^(09-2012)	--	--
	September	To Be Determined^(10-2012)	--	--	To Be Determined^(10-2012)	--	--
Year	Month	American League^(Team)	Pos	P.R.	National League^(Team)	Pos	P.R.
Rookie of the Month Award \| Bold Names = Won Rookie of the Year Award

Nominees for the Rookie of the Month Award are determined by on-field statistical criteria. Fans should visit their site throughout the season to access information on the nominees, unique statistics, video clips and exclusive editorial content all focused around the rookie theme.

Baseball Almanac chose a Fred Lynn quote to open the page because Gillette used Lynn (winner of the 1975 Rookie of the Year Award) to help launch the program in May 2008 in what they called a Satellite Media Tour in New York City.

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