MLB: MAY IN REVIEW

We have officially closed the book on 33% of the regular season. This past month saw a ton of players spend time on the Injured List, but it also saw 3 fantastic returns to the game. Bryce Harper recovered from offseason Tommy John surgery. Atlanta Braves pitcher Mike Soroka had a fantastic 2020, but he has been sidelined since early 2021 while recovering from a torn Achilles. His recovery process was very tough, but he has prevailed and returned to the mound. A much more remarkable comeback was that of White Sox Closer Liam Hendricks. He was diagnosed with cancer during the offseason, but he went to work and beat it. This inspirational accomplishment was capped off with his return to the mound in Chicago. These were just a few of the stories from the 2nd chapter of the 2023 season. The Rays are setting the pace and unlike years before, it’s their offense that’s carrying them.

MAY STORYLINES:

• News broke that the Oakland A’s and Las Vegas were in discussions and the A’s purchased land in Vegas
• Liam Hendricks struck out cancer and has retaken his Closer role for the White Sox.
• Justin Verlander & Max Scherzer had rough starts to the month
• Bryce Harper returned to the Phillies lineup months after Tommy John surgery
• The Rays are the 1st team to 40 wins
• The “Polar Bear” Pete Alonso is the 1st hitter to 20 Home Runs
• Fernando Tatis Jr finally returned to the Padres lineup after being out due to PED Suspension and injury.
• Multiple Regional Sports Networks are going bankrupt and it looks like MLB will overtake the broadcast rights. The Padres have already seen their broadcasts taken over.
• The AL East is the best division in the game.
• The NL Central is open to every team and it will go down to the wire.
• Freddie Freeman ended May with a 20 game hitting streak (active entering June).

POWER POLL TOP 10:

1.). TAMPA BAY RAYS

2.). ATLANTA BRAVES

3.). LA DODGERS

4.). TEXAS RANGERS

5.). BALTIMORE ORIOLES

6.). NEW YORK YANKEES

7.). HOUSTON ASTROS

8.). TORONTO BLUE JAYS

9.). ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

10.). LA ANGELS

BOTTOM 5 POWER POLL:

26.). COLORADO ROCKIES

27.). WASHINGTON NATIONALS

28.). CHICAGO WHITE SOX

29.). KANSAS CITY ROYALS

30.). OAKLAND A’S

AMERICAN LEAGUE PITCHER OF THE MONTH:

NATHAN EVOLDI: TEXAS RANGERS

• 37.2 IP, 4 Wins, 1 Complete Game
• Allowed 4 Earned Runs, 9 Walks, 31 Strikeouts
• 0.96 ERA, WHiP of 0.85 and a K/9 of 7.41

AMERICAN LEAGUE HITTER OF THE MONTH:

AARON JUDGE: NEW YORK YANKEES

• 26 Hits (26/73), 23 Runs Scored, 5 Doubles
• 12 Home Runs, 25 RBI’s, 1 Sac Fly, 1 Stolen Base and 19 Walks
• Batting Average of .356 and an OPS of 1.402

AMERICAN LEAGUE ROOKIE OF THE MONTH:

MASATAKA YOSHIDA: BOSTON RED SOX

• 32 Hits (32/92),13 Runs Scored, 7 Doubles & 1 Triple
• 2 Home Runs, 14 RBI’s, 1 Stolen Base & 8 Walks
• Batting Average of .348 and an OPS of .917

NATIONAL LEAGUE PITCHER OF THE MONTH:

LOGAN WEBB: SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS

• 34.2 IP, 3 Wins
• Allowed 5 Earned Runs, 9 Walks and 33 Strikeouts
• 1.30 ERA, WHiP of 0.98 and K/9 of 8.57

NATIONAL LEAGUE HITTER OF THE MONTH:

FREDDIE FREEMAN: LA DODGERS

• 44 Hits (44/111), 26 Runs Scored, 17 Doubles, 1 Triple
• 6 Home Runs, 26 RBI’S, 2 Sac Flys, 2 Stolen Bases, 11 Walks
• Batting Average of .396 and an OPS of 1.187

NATIONAL LEAGUE ROOKIE OF THE MONTH:

CASEY SCHMITT: SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS

• 26 Hits (26/80), 12 Runs Scored & 6 Doubles
• 2 Home Runs, 15 RBI’s, 2 Stolen Bases and 1 Walk
• Batting Average of .325 and an OPS of .808

JUNE SERIES TO KEEP AN EYE ON:

• LA ANGELS AT HOUSTON ASTROS. JUNE 1ST — 4TH
• NEW YORK YANKEES AT LA DODGERS. JUNE 2ND — 4TH
• ATLANTA BRAVES AT ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS. JUNE 2ND — 4TH
• HOUSTON ASTROS AT TORONTO BLUE JAYS. JUNE 5TH — 7TH
• BALTIMORE ORIOLES AT MILWAUKEE BREWERS. JUNE 6TH — 8TH
• SEATTLE MARINERS AT LA ANGELS. JUNE 9TH — 11TH
• LA ANGELS AT TEXAS RANGERS. JUNE 12TH — 15TH
• NEW YORK YANKEES AT NEW YORK METS. JUNE 12TH — 13TH
• TAMPA BAY RAYS AT SAN DIEGO PADRES. JUNE 16TH — 18TH
• ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS AT MILWAUKEE BREWERS. JUNE 19TH — 21ST
• NEW YORK METS AT HOUSTON ASTROS. JUNE 19TH — 21ST
• TEXAS RANGERS AT NEW YORK YANKEES. JUNE 23RD — 25TH
• MILWAUKEE BREWERS AT NEW YORK METS. JUNE 26TH — 28TH
• PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES AT CHICAGO CUBS. JUNE 27TH — 29TH

Don’t forget to log onto MLB.Com and Vote for your 2023 AL & NL All Stars!