NEW YORK - Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Kazuma Okamoto has been named the American League Rookie of the Month for June, Major League Baseball announced Friday.
Okamoto led all rookies with seven home runs in June and tied for the AL rookie lead with 20 RBIs, while averaging .286.
He is the 10th Japanese player to receive the award and follows hot on the heels of Chicago White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami, who won for the AL in May.
"I'm very happy to have been selected," Okamoto said. "I want to continue to do my best each game."
Colorado Rockies infielder TJ Rumfield was named National League Rookie of the Month for June.
The Player of the Month awards went to Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero in the AL and Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong in the NL.
Tampa Bay right-hander Drew Rasmussen and San Francisco Giants right-hander Logan Webb were named Pitcher of the Month in the AL and NL, respectively.
