Major League Baseball’s August awards brought a mix of familiar names and first-time winners, with the Royals, Cubs, Phillies and Brewers all represented among the month’s top performers.
Kansas City’s Jac Caglianone took home American League Player of the Month after a huge run at the plate. The 23-year-old finished August hitting .411/.429/.684 with six home runs and 26 RBI, and his 1.113 OPS led all of MLB. It was the first monthly honor of his career.
On the National League side, Pete Crow-Armstrong continued his big power stretch for the Cubs and was named Player of the Month. He launched 14 home runs in August, the most in baseball, while putting up a 1.069 OPS and knocking in 28 runs. Crow-Armstrong also won the award in June, and his power surge helped Chicago set an NL record with 62 home runs during the month.
The pitching awards also went to a pair of standout arms from the Royals and Phillies. Kansas City starter Noah Cameron earned AL Pitcher of the Month after logging a 1.87 ERA in five August starts. One of those outings was a one-hit shutout against the Angels on Aug. 16, and the award was the first monthly recognition of his career.
Philadelphia left-hander Jesús Luzardo claimed NL Pitcher of the Month honors after a dominant August of his own. He worked to a 1.31 ERA across five starts, struck out 46 batters in 34⅓ innings and never allowed more than two earned runs in any outing.
Among the rookies, Chicago White Sox outfielder Tristan Peters captured AL Rookie of the Month after posting a 1.054 OPS. He also ripped off a five-game home run streak from Aug. 22-26.
Cincinnati’s Sal Stewart was the NL Rookie of the Month after hitting .304/.349/.530 with eight home runs and 21 RBI in August. Stewart entered September leading MLB with 105 RBI and had already hit 31 home runs on the year.
The relief awards went to Houston’s Josh Hader in the American League and Milwaukee’s Trevor Megill in the National League. Hader didn’t allow a run in August and was 21-for-21 in save opportunities on the season, while Megill posted a 0.42 WHIP and converted all eight of his save chances during the month.
In Other News...
Royals Win Took A Weird Turn Because Of Craig Kimbrel
A routine night at Kauffman Stadium took an unsettling turn when Craig Kimbrel started feeling nauseous in the middle of his appearance and eventually vomited on the mound. The Royals later confirmed the issue was nausea, and the bizarre scene quickly became a talking point as the Marlins broadcast showed footage of the incident.
Kimbrel stayed in long enough to throw one pitch after vomiting, and that pitch hit a batter before manager Matt Quatraro pulled him from the game. For a bullpen that has leaned on veteran arms to get through tight moments, it was an awkward and unexpected detour in a game the Royals were trying to finish without drama. [Read more 🡒]
Royals Fans Just Got A Hopeful Stephen Kolek Family Update
Stephen Kolek has spent the start of this stretch juggling the kind of life events that dwarf anything happening on a mound. The Royals right-hander had Tommy John surgery on his right elbow while his wife, Jessica, was giving birth to their daughter, Faye, who arrived seven weeks early, and the family has since been living through the long, nerve-racking routine of the neonatal intensive care unit.
After nearly 10 weeks in the NICU and two surgeries, Faye is finally home with her parents, a welcome milestone for a family that has already been through plenty. Kansas City is giving Kolek additional time away from the club so he can stay with them during this period, a small but meaningful allowance as he focuses on the more important recovery timeline unfolding off the field. [Read more 🡒]
Royals Fans Are Suddenly Wrestling With A Bobby Witt Jr. Reality
The Royals have plenty of young talent to keep their long-term outlook interesting, but a recent fan survey showed just how quickly the conversation around the roster can shift. Jacs breakout performance emerged as the clear favorite for excitement heading into the 2027 season, while Cameron, Carter Jensen and Bobby Witt Jr. drew less buzz than you might have expected for a player who had been viewed as the centerpiece of the future.
For Witt, the discussion is less about whether he still matters and more about what kind of star hes becoming. His power numbers have trended down, and his recent performance has not lined up with the MVP-level expectations that once followed him around, even if his youth still leaves room for a rebound. For a fan base that had been counting on him to anchor the next great Royals team, the broader question now is whether his ceiling has simply shifted or whether a bigger surge is still coming. [Read more 🡒]