Astros AM Breakdown: Alex Bregman named AL Player of the Month

This post may be a tad late, but how can I NOT write about third baseman Alex Bregman?

The Astros‘ offense was quite good throughout the month of June. By wRC+, only the Yankees — 115 wRC+ — were able to match Houston’s offense — 115 wRC+ — for roughly four weeks. A key reason behind the Astros’ offensive ascension was the performance of Alex Bregman.

.306 batting average
.372 on-base percentage
.713 slugging percentage
11 home runs
30 RBI
24 runs
194 wRC+

In response to his incredible June, Bregman was named both AL Player of the Week and AL Player of the Month on Monday.

Add two to that mantle. Congratulations, @ABREG_1! 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/47xlAVQVZJ
— Houston Astros (@astros) July 2, 2018

I hope Bregman has invested in a trophy cabinet at his home. I would recommend a nice mahogany trophy case. How about a cherry wood? A walnut case wouldn’t be a bad choice.

Anyway, it is quite obvious to see why Bregman was tabbed as AL Player of the Month. Only Nelson Cruz matched Houston’s third baseman in home runs with 11. Mike Trout and Shin-Soo Choo each maintained a higher wRC+, but the overall body work points to Bregman in the month of June.

In terms of franchise history, Bregman joins Art Howe as the only Houston third basemen to win a Player of the Month award.

Alex Bregman is just the second #Astros third baseman to win a Player of the Month award. The first was Art Howe in 1981.
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) July 2, 2018

If you look at the season in its entirety, an argument can be made that Bregman has been the team’s best hitter.

Qualified Astros hitters by wRC+, 2018

Alex Bregman: 151 wRC+
Jose Altuve: 148 wRC+
Carlos Correa: 129 wRC+
Evan Gattis: 124 wRC+
George Springer: 117 wRC+

Bregman has also been the only Astro regular to post a higher walk rate — 13.1% — than strikeout rate — 12.5% — this season. And in terms of overall production, only Altuve’s 3.8 fWAR tops Bregman’s 3.5 fWAR. Yes, by fWAR, Houston’s third baseman has been the second-most valuable position player on the Astros.

The former first-round draft pick has continued to improve each season in the majors. When anyone talks about the franchise’s core players, Bregman has been on the short list. That much hasn’t changed.