The Kansas City Royals, on Sunday morning, announced that infielder Whit Merrifield and right-handed pitcher Brad Keller were named the franchise’s Player and Pitcher of the Month for August, with the awards determined by a local media vote.
Merrifield accumulated a .358 average and 39 hits in August, with the average the third best in the American League. The second baseman reached base safely in 26 of 28 games, and had six steals. On August 26th, with his 10th homer of the season, Merrifield became the fifth Royal with back-to-back, 10 homer, 20 steal seasons, joining Carlos Beltran, Johnny Damon, Bo Jackson, and Amos Otis.
Keller led the Royals in wins (3), innings (37 1/3) and ERA (2.89) in August, holding opponents to two runs or fewer in five of his six starts. Keller, the winner of the award in June, becomes the first Royals rookie to win the honor twice in one season since Brian Bannister won it in June, July, and August of 2007.
