NEW YORK, NY — Infielder Ildemaro Vargas of the Arizona Diamondbacks has been voted the National League Player of the Month for March/April, and outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez of the Houston Astros has been voted the American League Player of the Month for March/April. The announcements were made earlier today on MLB Network.
Vargas earned his first career award, marking the first award for the Diamondbacks since his teammate Corbin Carroll won in August 2024. Overall, Vargas is Arizona’s ninth player to win the award (10th occurrence), joining Carroll; Paul Goldschmidt (June 2018); A.J. Pollock (April 2018); J.D. Martinez (September 2017); Martín Prado (August 2013); Kelly Johnson (April 2010); Justin Upton (May 2009); Luis Gonzalez (2x: April & June 2001); and Matt Williams (April 1999). Alvarez earned his third career honor after previously winning in June 2022 and September/October 2023, and it is the first honor for Houston since Alvarez’s award in 2023.
Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
Additionally, it is the first time an Astros player has been recognized in the first month of a season. Alvarez is one of eight Cuban-born players to win Player of the Month, joining José Abreu (3x: April 2014, July 2014 & August 2021); Jose Canseco (2x: September 1988 & May 1990); Yuli Gurriel (July 2019); Rafael Palmeiro (4x: June 1993, June 1998, June 1999 & August 1999); Hall of Famer Tony Pérez (August 1975); Yasiel Puig (2x: June 2013 & May 2014); and Luis Tiant (August 1976). It is the first time a pair of internationally born players have earned the honor in the same month since Alvarez won alongside Atlanta’s Ronald Acuña Jr. (Venezuela) in September/October 2023.
Ildemaro Vargas, Arizona Diamondbacks (@vargasildemaro)
The 34-year-old hit .378 (34-for-90) with six homers, 20 RBI, six doubles, two triples, three walks, 19 runs scored, a .689 slugging percentage and a .398 on-base percentage across 23 games.
Among players with at least 50 plate appearances, the Caripito, Venezuela native ranked second in batting average; ranked fourth in slugging; and ranked fifth in OPS (1.087).
The 10-year veteran hit safely in each of his first 24 games of the season before the streak snapped on Saturday at Chicago (NL), setting a Diamondbacks’ franchise record to begin a season. Overall, Vargas hit safely in 27 consecutive games dating back to September 26th of last season, marking the longest streak in Major League history by a player born in Venezuela.
The 24-game streak matched Tony Womack in 2000 for the second-longest in a single season in franchise history, trailing only a 30-game stretch from Luis Gonzalez in 1999. Including streaks that spanned multiple seasons, his 27-game streak is the second-longest hitting streak in franchise history behind the 30-game streak by Gonzalez from April 11-May 18, 1999. Additionally, his 20-game hitting streak in road games that dated back to September 8th of last year set the franchise record.
Overall, it was just the 13th hitting streak of at least 20 games to begin a season in Major League history, and the longest since Detroit’s Ron LeFlore hit safely in 30 consecutive games to begin the 1976 campaign. Hall of Famer George Sisler holds the Major League record, hitting safely in 34 consecutive games for the St. Louis Browns to begin the 1925 season.
The switch-hitter became the fourth player in the last 40 years with at least 35 hits, six homers, six doubles, two triples and 20 RBI within their first 25 games of a season, joining Jimmy Paredes (2015); Hall of Famer Carlos Beltrán (2007) and Hubie Brooks (1986). Overall, the feat has been accomplished by 21 players since 1901 including by Hall of Famers Babe Ruth (1921); Lou Gehrig (1927); Stan Musial (1948); Ted Williams (1955); and Willie Mays (1958).
Vargas was named NL Player of the Week on April 27th, connecting on a pair of homers on April 22nd against the White Sox, racking up a career-high five RBI. Along with his three RBI on April 21st, Vargas became Arizona’s first player with at least eight RBI in a two-game span since Pavin Smith had nine RBI across a pair of games in September 2024, highlighted by an eight-RBI game.
Yordan Alvarez, Houston Astros (@yordan4342)
The 28-year-old hit .356 (42-for-118) with 12 homers, 27 RBI, nine doubles, 21 walks, 25 runs scored, a stolen base, a .737 slugging percentage and a .462 on-base percentage, appearing in each of Houston’s first 32 games.
The Las Tunas, Cuba native paced the Majors in batting average, home runs, on-base percentage, slugging, OPS (1.199), hits and total bases (87); ranked second in extra-base hits (21); ranked fourth in RBI; and tied for ninth in runs scored.
The three-time All-Star became the first Astro to eclipse 40 hits and 10 home runs prior to May 1st, and just the fifth player to accomplish the feat in Major League history, joining Aaron Judge (50 H/10 HR in 2025); Cody Bellinger (47 H/14 HR in 2019); Chase Utley (40 H/11 HR in 2008); and Hall of Famer Larry Walker (41 H/11 HR in 1997). The Astros’ 32 games and MLB’s 468 games in March/April were both records.
The 2019 Jackie Robinson AL Rookie of the Year Award winner homered in four of his five games from April 15th-19th, and hit seven home runs across a 13-game stretch from April 10th-22nd. He recorded a 13-game hitting streak from April 14th-28th, going 21-for-54 (.389) with five homers, 12 RBI, five doubles, 10 runs scored and a 1.190 OPS. The streak matched the longest hitting streak of his career (also: May 2-16, 2023) and came in the midst of a 22-game on-base streak from April 4th-28th.
The 2022 World Series Champion and ALCS MVP hit a sacrifice fly in the third inning on April 3rd, marking the 500th RBI of his career. Alvarez became the 15th player in franchise history to record at least 500 RBI with the club and became the first MLB player since Josh Hamilton to record at least 500 RBI through his first 685 career games. Additionally, he became the 19th Cuban-born player with 500 career RBI and just the 10th to eclipse 170 home runs and 500 RBI.
The 2022 Silver Slugger Award winner homered on April 5th, matching George Springer for seventh-most homers in franchise history before passing him with his 175th career home run on April 10th. Alvarez’s 182 career home runs are seventh-most in franchise history, and he is just 10 longballs away from surpassing Alex Bregman (191 HR) for sixth-most in franchise history.
Others receiving votes for NL Player of the Month included first baseman Matt Olson (.296, 9 HR, 28 RBI, 13 2B, 16 BB, 27 R, .616 SLG, .371 OBP) and catcher Drake Baldwin (.308, 7 HR, 25 RBI, 4 2B, 14 BB, 30 R, 1 SB, .500 SLG, .384 OBP) of the Atlanta Braves; NL Rookie of the Month Sal Stewart (.281, 9 HR, 29 RBI, 6 2B, 18 BB, 20 R, 7 SB, .570 SLG, .373 OBP) and his Cincinnati Reds’ teammate, shortstop Elly De La Cruz (.282, 10 HR, 24 RBI, 5 2B, 14 BB, 26 R, 8 SB, .565 SLG, .355 OBP); rookie designated hitter Moisés Ballesteros (.338, 5 HR, 16 RBI, 5 2B, 7 BB, 12 R, .620 SLG, .393 OBP) of the Chicago Cubs; shortstop CJ Abrams (.296, 8 HR, 26 RBI, 4 2B, 15 BB, 16 R, 5 SB, .556 SLG, .405 OBP) of the Washington Nationals; catcher/designated hitter Liam Hicks (.315, 7 HR, 28 RBI, 3 2B, 7 BB, 18 R, 1 SB, .576 SLG, .365 OBP) of the Miami Marlins; and outfielder Mickey Moniak (.315, 8 HR, 17 RBI, 6 2B, 6 BB, 15 R, 1 SB, .652 SLG, .361 OBP) of the Colorado Rockies.
Others receiving votes for AL Player of the Month included catcher Shea Langeliers (.328, 8 HR, 15 RBI, 9 2B, 11 BB, 21 R, .592 SLG, .382 OBP) of the Athletics; and New York Yankees sluggers, right fielder Aaron Judge (.252, 12 HR, 20 RBI, 5 2B, 21 BB, 25 R, 5 SB, .622 SLG, .381 OBP) and first baseman Ben Rice (.327, 10 HR, 23 RBI, 8 2B, 21 BB, 26 R, 1 SB, .714 SLG, .443 OBP).
Information Courtesy of Major League Baseball
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