After a Cincinnati Reds franchise record homer streak, Joey Votto accomplished another career first Monday.
Votto was named the National League Player of the Month for July. It's the first time he's received the league's monthly award in his career, becoming the first Reds player to win it since Trevor Bauer in Sept. 2020 and the first position player since Eugenio Suárez in Sept. 2019.
Jonathan India was named the NL Rookie of the Month in July. He is the ninth Reds rookie to win one of the league's monthly awards since 2001 and he's the first since Aristides Aquino in Aug. 2019.
Votto finished July with a .319 batting average, .440 on-base percentage and .734 slugging percentage. He had 30 hits, four doubles, 11 homers, 25 RBI and 18 runs scored in 26 games.
He homered in seven consecutive games last week, totaling nine home runs in that red-hot stretch. He was the eighth player in MLB history to homer in seven straight games and the first since Kendrys Morales did it in Aug. 2018.
Votto became the second player in MLB history to total nine homers, 15 RBI and six walks across any seven-game stretch, joining Mark McGwire (1998).
India, the Reds' leadoff hitter posted a .319 batting average, .470 on-base percentage and .527 slugging percentage across 25 games in July. He scored 20 runs and added seven doubles, four homers and 12 RBI.
The Reds had the NL's best record in July at 16-10. Luis Castillo (2.15 ERA in 37 1/3 innings) received votes for Pitcher of the Month and Kyle Farmer (.395 batting average) had votes for player of the month.
MILB HONOR: Louisville Bats shortstop Jose Barrero was named the Triple-A East Player of the Week on Monday.
Barrero, a top prospect, tied for the lead league in hits (11) and total bases (20) during the week. He hit .458 with six runs, three doubles, two homers, eight RBI and three stolen bases across six games. He posted a .519 on-base percentage with four multi-hit games.
He changed his last name from Garcia to Barrero to honor his late mother. Since July 15, when he returned from the Futures Game, he ranks third among all minor league players with 28 hits in 17 games. He had a 23-game on-base streak end Saturday.
Barrero is the first Louisville player to win a weekly award during the 2021 season.
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