Beltre Named AL Player of the Month
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Arlington, Texas – Major League Baseball announced today that Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre has been named the American League Player of the Month for September. Voting for the award is done by the league writers and broadcasters.
Beltre has won the September award for a second straight season, also earning the honor in September 2011. He is the fourth A.L. player ever to win the award in consecutive Septembers, joining Baltimore’s Eddie Murray (1980-81), New York’s Don Mattingly (1985-86), and Cleveland’s Albert Belle (1998-99).
It is his third career honor, also winning the National League award with the Dodgers in September 2004. Josh Hamilton won the A.L. award in April and May, meaning the Rangers took three of the league’s six monthly awards in 2012, a club record. Milwaukee had three of the six winners in the N.L. last year, but this year’s Rangers are the first to do it in the A.L. since the Yankees had three of six in 2007.
Beltre batted .337 (33-98) with 11 home runs, 19 RBI, and 19 runs scored in 26 games for Texas last month. He led the majors in slugging (.724) and total bases (71), and ranked 2nd in home runs. He also ranked among A.L. leaders in extra-base hits (T3rd, 15), RBI (T8th), average (9th), and runs (T10th). His 4 game-winning RBI in the month ranked T2nd-most in the league. Beltre hit 12 homers in September 2011, as he is now the first Ranger ever to hit 10-or-more home runs in multiple Septembers. The only other active player to hit 11-or-more home runs multiple times in September is Ryan Howard (11 HR in Sept. 2007 and 2008).
He also did not commit an error in 22 games at third base during September, spanning 54 total chances.
Beltre becomes the seventh player to win the monthly award multiple times in a career with the Rangers, joining Hamilton (4 times), Rafael Palmeiro (3), Alex Rodriguez (3), Ivan Rodriguez, Juan Gonzalez, and Ruben Sierra (twice each).
