Second baseman Gleyber Torres was named the American League Rookie of the Month for May after posting some outstanding numbers in 24 games with the New York Yankees.
He finished the month with a .317 batting average, 13 runs scored, nine homers and 24 runs batted in.
The 21-year-old slugger led all major league rookies in batting average, home runs, and RBIs during the month, while leading the Yankees in slugging and OPS (1.032).
Torres in the fifth Yankees player all-time to win A.L Rookie of the Month honors, and the third current member of the roster to do so, joining catcher Gary Sanchez and outfielder Aaron Judge.
In addition to putting up impressive numbers during the past month, the rookie has shown the propensity and talent necessary to perform in clutch situations and shine with his timely hitting.
His power and awareness at the plate have been the two main weapons that he resorts to when he needs to come through in tough situations, especially when his team has been trailing.
Although his offensive skills have never been in doubt, he’s grown exponentially over the last two years as he’s now matured and developed a consistency that has led him to win this award.
His approach includes using his hands and staying inside the baseball as he looks to hit the ball to the right-center and use the right field.
His production at the plate comes not only from having a consistent approach but also from trusting his instincts and the ability to recognize pitches as the ball leaves the pitcher’s hand.
He rarely looks overmatched at the plate, which is impressive for a player that is so young and is just getting started at the major league level.
