Sat May 3 16:33:20 2008

Comment | Email | Print

Hamilton named AL Player of the Month

---

New York, NY (Sports Network) - Texas Ranger outfielder Josh Hamilton was named the American League Player of the Month for April.

Hamilton earned his first-ever monthly honor by posting a .330 batting average with an MLB-best 32 runs batted in by the end of April. He also led the American League in total bases (68), hits (38), and extra base hits (17) in the span.

The 26-year-old is the first Rangers player to win the monthly award since Mark Teixeira in July 2004, and the first Texas outfielder to win it since Juan Gonzalez in September 1997.

Others receiving votes were Boston outfielder Manny Ramirez, Chicago White Sox outfielder Carlos Quentin, and Angels first baseman Casey Kotchman. Among those players also receiving votes were Tampa Bay's Carlos Pena and Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees.

Cleveland's Fausto Carmona earned the AL Pitcher of the Month award while Boston outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury nabbed AL Rookie of the Month honors.