September 30, 2026. Major League Baseball has announced its September monthly award winners, recognizing eight performances across the American and National leagues as the regular season closed.
Royals catcher Carter Jensen earned both American League Player of the Month and Rookie of the Month. Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz was named National League Player of the Month.
Players and pitchers of the month
In MLB’s September 29 announcement, Jensen was credited with a .338 batting average, eight home runs and a 1.194 on-base-plus-slugging percentage across 21 September games. His 19 extra-base hits led the majors during the month.
De La Cruz posted a .348/.437/.719 batting line in 103 September plate appearances, with nine home runs and six stolen bases. Those results helped him finish the season with 30 home runs and 30 steals.
The pitching awards went to Rays right-hander Freddy Peralta in the American League and Pirates right-hander Jared Jones in the National League. Peralta allowed three earned runs over 28 innings in five September starts, finishing the month with a 0.89 WHIP. Jones struck out 40 batters in 29 innings and recorded a 0.59 WHIP, allowing no runs in four of his five starts.
Rookie and relief honors
Jensen’s double recognition made him the first hitter since Nick Kurtz in July 2025 to win both a league’s Player and Rookie awards in the same month, according to MLB. Rockies outfielder Cole Carrigg received the National League rookie award after batting .327 with six home runs and a .911 OPS in September.
Guardians right-hander Cade Smith won the American League relief award after throwing 13 scoreless innings, striking out 21 and collecting six saves. His final save clinched a postseason berth for Cleveland.
Pirates left-hander Mason Montgomery was selected as the National League Reliever of the Month. MLB highlighted a longer scoreless stretch from July 27 through September 25, during which he recorded 37 strikeouts over 24 2/3 innings.
Why the awards matter now
Monthly honors do not determine postseason results or replace the league’s end-of-season awards, but they show which players finished the regular season in peak form. Several honorees are already part of the postseason picture, while others closed their teams’ seasons with individual milestones.
For continuing postseason coverage, visit AskNovus’s MLB section and the Wild Card Game 2 schedule and viewing guide.
Source: Major League Baseball announcement dated September 29, 2026. Featured image: SAID ABRAHAM CRUZ / Unsplash, illustrative baseball-stadium photograph.