Dodgers' Pujols wins NL Batter of the Month honor, again
September 1, 2001
LOS ANGELES — Last summer, Albert Pujols was just getting his feet wet in professional baseball as a farmhand for the Dodgers organization.
These days, he's emerging as one of the most feared hitters in all of baseball.
The 21-year-old left fielder picked up his second straight National League Batter of the Month award. Pujols batted .340 in 103 trips to the plate, bopping eight homers and recording 35 RBIs. In taking July's batting honor, Pujols batted a robust .392 with five homers and 21 RBIs.
Pujols joined the Big Club in Los Angeles on May 13. It didn't take long before he displaced another young phenom, Josh Hamilton, as the every day left fielder. He also displaced veterans like Alex Rodriguez and Mike Piazza as the clean-up hitter in the Dodgers' lineup. He may next claim NL Rookie of the Year honors.
Pujols had an eight-RBI game in mid-August against the Brewers. For the season, he is hitting .344 with 14 home runs, 21 doubles and 66 RBIs...