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OAKLAND -- Major League Baseball has voted Yoenis Cespedes the rookie of the month for September. He ends Angels' outfielder Mike Trout's run of four consecutive rookie of the month honors.In September, Cespedes hit .257 (28 for 109), with five doubles, two triples, seven home runs, 19 RBI, and scored 18 runs. He is the first A's player to win the award since Jemile Weeks in June of 2011.
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If it wasn't for Trout, Cespedes might be a lock for rookie of the year. He ranks second in runs (69), hits (139), doubles (25), homers (23), RBI (82), walks (41), batting average (.290), on-base percentage (.352), and slugging percentage (.506). He did all that while missing 34 games in 2012. Trout's impact on the Angels cannot be questioned, but Cespedes might be more important to his club, the A's are 80-46 with Cespedes in the lineup.The Cuban-born slugger's 23 homers are the third most by a rookie player in Oakland history, trailing Mark McGwire who hit 49 in 1987 and Jose Canseco who clubbed 33 in 1986.
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Cespedes is on a four-year contract and he joined the A's late in Spring Training. He could continue to improve as he learns to adjust to life in America and learns more about Major League pitching. While his rookie numbers are important, the A's are probably more impressed with Cespedes' stats against the Texas Rangers. He has a .375 average, with three homers, 10 RBI, two triples, and six doubles against the reigning American League champions.
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