American League Players of the Month for June: Gold, Silver and Bronze Winners
SportsGrid Contributor Just Baseball
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Gold Medal Pitcher of the Month: Max Fried, New York Yankees
June Stats: 3-1 (5 GS), 1.91 ERA, 33 IP, 34 K, 5 BB, 1.1 fWAR
Max Fried has settled in perfectly in pinstripes, and the New York Yankees couldn’t be more thrilled with their offseason splash. Fried carved up hitters with pinpoint command, walking just five over 33 innings while posting a sub-2.00 ERA. With New York’s rotation needing an anchor post-Juan Soto, Fried is delivering.
For all your MLB deep dives, check out our friends at Just Baseball.
Gold Medal Pitcher of the Month: Framber Valdez, Houston Astros
June saw a logjam of elite arms dominate the American League mound, so instead of splitting hairs, we’re handing out a rare six-way Gold Medal to six arms, starting with a Houston star.
June Stats: 4-0 (5 GS), 1.74 ERA, 31 IP, 35 K, 15 BB, 1.0 fWAR
Framber Valdez has been a rock for the Houston Astros in his contract year. He didn’t just rack up wins — he dominated lineups to the tune of a sub-1.75 ERA and cracked the 1.0 fWAR mark. A free agent winter payday is looking bigger by the second.
Thanks to Just Baseball for the stats, analysis and insights for this slideshow article.
Gold Medal Hitter of the Month: Yandy Díaz, Tampa Bay Rays
June Stats: 113 PA, 5 HR, 16 R, 13 RBI, .400/.469/.610, 208 wRC+, 1.6 fWAR
While the Tampa Bay Rays' season has had its turbulence, Yandy Díaz was the one constant force at the dish. His .400 average and AL-leading wRC+ of 208 turned June into a hitting clinic. The Rays’ first baseman is about to eclipse last season’s fWAR and keeps proving he’s one of baseball’s toughest outs.
Gold Medal Pitcher of the Month: Jacob deGrom, Texas Rangers
June Stats: 4-0 (5 GS), 1.41 ERA, 32 IP, 32 K, 6 BB, 1.4 fWAR
Back to vintage form, Jacob deGrom reminded everyone why he’s one of the best of his generation. After years battling injuries, the Texas Rangers’ ace was lights-out in June — posting an ERA just above 1.40 and tying for the highest fWAR among AL starters. At 37, he’s pitching like he’s 27, and Texas fans couldn’t be happier.
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Silver Medal Hitter of the Month: Byron Buxton, Minnesota Twins
June Stats: 103 PA, 9 HR, 17 R, 21 RBI, .310/.408/.678, 198 wRC+, 1.8 fWAR
A fully healthy Byron Buxton for the Minnesota Twins is one of MLB’s biggest what-ifs — and this June, we got a taste of that upside. Buxton smashed nine homers with a .678 slugging mark while flashing speed on the bases with six steals. He narrowly missed the top fWAR spot among AL bats, finishing just behind Cal Raleigh’s monster month.
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Gold Medal Pitcher of the Month: Seth Lugo, Kansas City Royals
June Stats: 2-0 (5 GS), 1.26 ERA, 28.2 IP, 31 K, 11 BB, 0.8 fWAR
The Kansas City Royals have struggled to stay afloat in 2025, but Seth Lugo has been a steady bright spot. His 1.26 ERA was second-best in the AL, sandwiched between Hunter Brown and Jacob deGrom, and his 0.8 fWAR speaks to how critical he’s been for Kansas City’s rotation.
Bronze Medal Hitter of the Month: Cal Raleigh, Seattle Mariners
June Stats: 118 PA, 11 HR, 22 R, 27 RBI, .300/.398/.690, 195 wRC+, 1.9 fWAR
Cal Raleigh’s bat was a thunderclap for the Seattle Mariners in June. The slugging catcher matched the AL lead with 11 homers, pushed his wRC+ to 195, and produced a position-best 1.9 fWAR. He even set a new record for most homers by a catcher before the All-Star break. Keep an eye on Raleigh’s MVP push if he keeps bashing like this.
Gold Medal Pitcher of the Month: Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers
June Stats: 5-0 (5 GS), 1.89 ERA, 33.1 IP, 39 K, 7 BB, 1.2 fWAR
Last year’s AL Cy Young winner looked every bit the part in June. Tarik Skubal went undefeated while striking out nearly 40 batters and logging an ERA under 1.90. His month-ending seven-inning, 13-strikeout gem capped off a stretch that kept the Detroit Tigers in the race and his name on top of the award watch list.
Gold Medal Pitcher of the Month: Hunter Brown, Houston Astros
June Stats: 1-0 (5 GS), 1.19 ERA, 30.1 IP, 39 K, 12 BB, 0.8 fWAR
Hunter Brown gave the Houston Astros a major shot in the arm with a sparkling 1.19 ERA, the lowest of any AL starter last month. He fanned 39 in just over 30 innings, putting himself firmly in the Cy Young conversation alongside bigger names like Tarik Skubal. Houston’s rotation is suddenly looking dangerous again.
Gold Medal Pitcher of the Month: Max Fried, New York Yankees
June Stats: 3-1 (5 GS), 1.91 ERA, 33 IP, 34 K, 5 BB, 1.1 fWAR
Max Fried has settled in perfectly in pinstripes, and the New York Yankees couldn’t be more thrilled with their offseason splash. Fried carved up hitters with pinpoint command, walking just five over 33 innings while posting a sub-2.00 ERA. With New York’s rotation needing an anchor post-Juan Soto, Fried is delivering.
For all your MLB deep dives, check out our friends at Just Baseball.
Gold Medal Pitcher of the Month: Framber Valdez, Houston Astros
June saw a logjam of elite arms dominate the American League mound, so instead of splitting hairs, we’re handing out a rare six-way Gold Medal to six arms, starting with a Houston star.
June Stats: 4-0 (5 GS), 1.74 ERA, 31 IP, 35 K, 15 BB, 1.0 fWAR
Framber Valdez has been a rock for the Houston Astros in his contract year. He didn’t just rack up wins — he dominated lineups to the tune of a sub-1.75 ERA and cracked the 1.0 fWAR mark. A free agent winter payday is looking bigger by the second.
Thanks to Just Baseball for the stats, analysis and insights for this slideshow article.
