# MiLB Announces August 2026 Players of the Month

- Link: https://www.nyrdcast.com/milb-august-2026-players-of-the-month/
- Published: 2026-09-03T15:00:00-05:00
- Author: Eugene Tierney

Minor League Baseball announced its August 2026 Player and Pitcher of the Month 
Award winners across the player development system. The honors recognize 24 individual
players representing 17 different Major League Baseball organizations for exceptional
statistical performances throughout the month.

The Cleveland Guardians and New York Yankees led all organizations with three award
recipients each. Selection categories spanned all levels of MiLB competition, including
Triple-A, Double-A, High-A, Single-A, and the Dominican Summer League.

### **MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL (MiLB) ANNOUNCES AUGUST PLAYERS AND PITCHERS OF THE MONTH**

#### _**24 winners represent 17 organizations; Guardians and Yankees lead with three selections**_

[⌊MiLB Press Release⌉⌊MiLB Press Release⌉[

**September 3, 2026 —** [Minor League Baseball](http://www.milb.com/)™ (MiLB™) today
announced the Player and Pitcher of the Month Award winners for August in [Major League Baseball](http://www.mlb.com/)’
s player development system.

**International League (Triple-A)**

[⌊MiLB Player of the Month⌉⌊MiLB Player of the Month⌉[

Columbus Clippers (Guardians) first baseman **[Ralphy Velazquez](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=velazq000ral&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2026-09-03_br)**
batted .356/.433/.867 and led all of professional baseball (Major Leagues and Minor
Leagues) in home runs (15) and was tied for the lead in RBI (34). He led the International
League in slugging percentage (.867) and OPS (1.300) and was second in total bases(
78). He finished third in average (.356), was fourth in runs (23) and fifth in hits(
32). He recorded eight multi-hit games and his first career three-homer game on 
August 22 against St. Paul. He hit safely in 12 straight games from August 4-20.

Velazquez, 21, was selected by Cleveland in the first round (23^(rd) overall) of
the 2023 MLB Draft out of Huntington Beach High School in Huntington Beach, California.

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (Yankees) right-hander **[Alexander Cornielle](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=cornie000ale&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2026-09-03_br)**
went 2-1 with a 1.57 ERA in four starts as he allowed four earned runs on 13 hits
and 10 walks over 23.0 innings. He led the league in ERA (1.57), average against(.
160), WHIP (1.00) and hits allowed per nine innings (5.09). Cornielle, 25, was originally
signed by Milwaukee as an international free agent out of Santo Domingo, Dominican
Republic, on January 15, 2019.

**Pacific Coast League (Triple-A)**

Sacramento River Cats (Giants) outfielder **[Bo Davidson](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=davids000bo-&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2026-09-03_br)**
batted .323/.410/.636 and led the league in total bases (63) and RBI (28). He was
second in doubles (10) and home runs (seven) and third in hits (32) and slugging
percentage (.636) while finishing fourth in OPS (1.046). After starting the month
0-for-15, he went 32-for-84 (.381) the rest of the month with nine multi-hit games
in the last 21 games. He tied his career high with four hits on August 13 and August
16 at Las Vegas. Davidson, 24, was signed by San Francisco as a free agent out of
Caldwell Tech Community College in Hudson, North Carolina, on July 25, 2023.

Oklahoma City Comets (Dodgers) right-hander **[Emmet Sheehan](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/sheehem01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2026-09-03_br)**

**Eastern League (Double-A)**

Akron RubberDucks (Guardians) outfielder **[Ryan Cesarini](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=cesari000rya&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2026-09-03_br)**
batted .356/.406/.805 and led the league in home runs (11), RBI (25), total bases(
70), slugging percentage (.805) and OPS (1.211). He was second in average (.356)
and hits (31) and was third in runs (21). He posted 10 multi-hit games and tied 
his career-high with four hits on August 23 against Harrisburg. Cesarini posted 
the first three multi-homer games of his career in August, with three longballs 
on August 11 at Altoona and a pair of two-homer games (August 14 and August 23).
Cesarini, 23, was selected by Cleveland in the 14^(th) round of the 2024 MLB Draft
out of St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia.

Hartford Yard Goats (Rockies) left-hander **[Stu Flesland](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=flesla000stu&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2026-09-03_br)
III **went 1-1 with a 1.29 ERA in six starts as he allowed five earned runs on 22
hits and 12 walks while striking out 31 over 35.0 innings. He led Minor League Baseball
in innings pitched (35.0) and led the league in ERA (1.29) and was second in average
against (.185) and hits allowed per nine innings (5.66). He did not allow an earned
run in three of his six starts. Flesland III, 25, was selected by Colorado in the
11^(th) round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of the University of Washington.

**Southern League (Double-A)**

Columbus Clingstones (Braves) shortstop **[Jordan Groshans](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/groshjo01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2026-09-03_br)**
batted .360/.393/.780 and led the league in hits (36), home runs (11), triples (
three), total bases (78), slugging percentage (.780) and OPS (1.173). He finished
second in average (.360) and RBI (27) before a September 1 promotion to Triple-A
Gwinnett. He recorded nine multi-hit games, including a career high-tying four hits
on August 28 at Chattanooga. He ended the month on a 19-game hitting streak which
saw him raise his season batting average from .252 to .282. Groshans, 26, was originally
selected by Toronto in the first round (12^(th) overall) of the 2018 MLB Draft out
of Magnolia High School in Magnolia, Texas.

Rocket City Trash Pandas (Angels) right-hander **[Austin Gordon](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=gordon002aus&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2026-09-03_br)**
went 4-0 with a 1.44 ERA in four starts as he scattered 10 hits and five walks over
25.0 innings. He led the league in wins (four), ERA (1.44), strikeouts (33), WHIP(
0.60), average against (.119), hits allowed per nine innings (3.6), strikeout-to-
walk ratio (6.60) and strikeouts per nine innings (11.88). He tied his career high
with 10 strikeouts on August 4 against Birmingham and in his final start of the 
month, he did not allow a baserunner over seven innings with eight strikeouts. Gordon,
23, was selected by Los Angeles (AL) in the fourth round of the 2024 MLB Draft out
of Clemson University.

**Texas League (Double-A)**

Amarillo Sod Poodles (Diamondbacks) outfielder **[Avery Owusu-Asiedu](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=owusu-000ave&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2026-09-03_br)**
was promoted to Amarillo on August 10 and in 18 games batted .435/.518/1.043 and
led the league in average (.435), home runs (11), RBI (29), total bases (72), on-
base percentage (.518), slugging percentage (1.043) and OPS (1.561). In his 18 games
with the Sod Poodles, he recorded 11 multi-hit games and hit safely in his first
14 games at the Double-A level. He notched his second career multi-homer game on
August 13 against Midland. Owusu-Asiedu, 23, was originally selected by Philadelphia
in the ninth round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville.
He was traded from the Phillies to the Diamondbacks on December 19, 2025, in exchange
for LHP **[Kyle Backhus](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/backhky01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2026-09-03_br)**.

Wichita Wind Surge (Twins) right-hander **[Ty Langenberg](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=langen000ty-&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2026-09-03_br)**
went 1-0 with a 1.00 ERA in six appearances (five starts) as he allowed three earned
runs on 10 hits and eight walks over 27.0 innings, while striking out 21. He led
the league in ERA (1.00), average against (.115) and hits allowed per nine innings(
3.39). He was second in WHIP (0.67) and began the month with a streak of 16 consecutive
scoreless innings. Langenberg, 24, was selected by Minnesota in the 11^(th) round
of the 2023 MLB Draft out of the University of Iowa.

**Midwest League (High-A)**

Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Brewers) second baseman **[Daniel Dickinson](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=dickin000dan&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2026-09-03_br)**
batted .343/.452/.581 and led the league in average (.343), runs (25), hits (36)
and stolen bases (18). He finished third in triples (two), and was fourth in doubles(
nine), total bases (61) and on-base percentage (.452). He recorded 13 multi-hit 
games, including two three-hit games (August 15 and 23) to tie his career high. 
Dickinson, 22, was selected by Milwaukee in the sixth round of the 2025 MLB Draft
out of Louisiana State University.

Lake County Captains (Guardians) right-hander **[Jacob Zibin](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=zibin-000jac&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2026-09-03_br)**
went 2-0 with a 0.64 ERA in five starts as he scattered 12 hits and nine walks over
28.0 innings while striking out 24. He led the league in ERA (0.64) and was second
in WHIP (0.75), average against (.132) and hits allowed per nine innings (3.86).
He allowed just one run over his first 24 innings of the month. Zibin, 21, was selected
by Cleveland in the 10^(th) round of the 2022 MLB Draft out of TNXL Academy in Longwood,
Florida.

**Northwest League (High-A)**

Everett AquaSox (Mariners) corner infielder **[Brandon Eike](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=eike--000bra&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2026-09-03_br)**
batted .359/.459/.630 and led the league in average (.359), hits (33), doubles (
11), on-base percentage (.459) and OPS (1.089). He was second in runs (21), RBI (
24) and total bases (58) and was third in slugging percentage (.630). He walked 
13 times while striking out just 15 times. He recorded nine multi-hit games and 
tied his career high with four hits on August 18 at Tri-City. Eike, 24, was selected
by Seattle in the 13^(th) round of the 2024 MLB Draft out of Virginia Commonwealth
University.

Eugene Emeralds (Giants) left-hander **[Jacob Bresnahan](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=bresna000jac&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2026-09-03_br)**
went 2-1 with a 2.86 ERA in four starts as he allowed 14 hits and seven walks over
22.0 innings, while striking out 25. He led the league in WHIP (0.95), average against(.
175), hits allowed per nine innings (5.73) and strikeouts per nine innings (10.23).
He was second in ERA (2.86), strikeouts (25) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.57) 
before an August 27 to Double-A Richmond. Bresnahan, 21, was originally selected
by Cleveland in the 13^(th) round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of Sumner High School
in Sumner, Washington. He was traded to the Giants on July 30, 2024 in exchange 
for RHP **[Alex Cobb](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cobbal01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2026-09-03_br)**.

**South Atlantic League (High-A)**

Greenville Drive (Red Sox) and Frederick Keys (Orioles) outfielder **[Enddy Azocar](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=azocar000end&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2026-09-03_br)**
batted .365/.404/.656 and led the league in average (.365), hits (35) and doubles(
nine) and was second in runs (24), total bases (63) and triples (two). He finished
fourth in slugging percentage (.656) and OPS (1.060). He began the month with five
straight multi-hit games, and posted 10 multi-hit games for the month, including
a career high four hits on August 19 at Wilmington. Azocar, 19, was originally signed
by Boston as an international free agent out of Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela, on January
15, 2024. He was traded to Baltimore on August 3^(rd) in exchange for catcher **
[Adley Rutschman](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rutscad01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2026-09-03_br)**.

Wilmington Blue Rocks (Nationals) right-hander **[Riley Maddox](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=maddox001ril&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2026-09-03_br)**
went 3-0 with a 0.38 ERA in four starts as he allowed one earned run on 15 hits 
and four walks over 23.2 innings. He led the league in wins (three), ERA (0.38) 
and WHIP (0.80) and was second in average against (.179), hits allowed per nine 
innings (5.70) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.00). He held opponents scoreless for
his first 19.2 innings with the Blue Rocks after starting the month with Double-
A Harrisburg. Maddox, 23, was selected by Washington in the eighth round of the 
2025 MLB Draft out of the University of Mississippi.

**California League (Single-A)**

Ontario Tower Buzzers (Dodgers) shortstop **[Joendry Vargas](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=vargas004joe&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2026-09-03_br)**
batted .396/.417/.646 and led the league in hits (38), total bases (62), doubles(
11) and slugging percentage (.646). He was second in average (.396) and OPS, was
fourth in triples (two) and fifth in RBI (20). He recorded 12 multi-hit games and
tied his career high with four hits on August 7 at Lake Elsinore. Vargas, 20, was
signed by Los Angeles (NL) as an international free agent out of Santo Domingo, 
Dominican Republic, on January 15, 2023.

Inland Empire 66ers (Mariners) left-hander **[Jack Bowery](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=bowery000jac&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2026-09-03_br)**
went 4-0 with a 1.23 ERA in four appearances (three starts) as he allowed three 
earned runs on 14 hits and four walks over 22.0 innings while striking out 20 batters.
He led the league in wins (four), ERA (1.23) and WHIP (0.82) and was third in average
against (.175), hits allowed per nine innings (5.73) and strikeout-to-walk ratio(
5.00). Bowery, 23, was signed by Seattle as a free agent out of Northeastern University,
on January 21, 2026.

**Carolina League (Single-A)**

Wilson Warbirds (Brewers) outfielder **[Brailyn Antunez](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=antune000bra&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2026-09-03_br)**
batted .372/.465/.628 and led the league in hits (32) and total bases (54). He was
second in home runs (five) and was third in average (.372) and runs (21). He finished
fourth in RBI (21) and slugging percentage (.628) and was fifth in on-base percentage(.
465) and OPS (1.093). He recorded 13 multi-hit games. Antunez, 18, was signed by
Milwaukee as an international free agent out of Maracaibo, Venezuela, on January
15, 2025.

Hickory Crawdads (Rangers) right-hander **[Moises Morales](https://www.baseball-reference.com/search/search.fcgi?pid=morale000moi,morale001moi&search=Moises+Morales&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2026-09-03_br)**
went 4-0 with a 0.82 ERA in four appearances (two starts) as he held opponents to
16 hits and three walks over 22.0 innings, while striking out 19. He led the league
in wins (four), ERA (0.82) and WHIP (0.86) and was second in average against (.216),
hits allowed per nine innings (6.55) and strikeout to walk ratio (6.33). He began
the month with five perfect innings August 1 at Delmarva and ended it allowing one
run over his last 12.0 innings of the month. Morales, 22, was signed by Texas as
an international free agent out of San Francisco, Venezuela, on July 17, 2023.

**Florida State League (Single-A)**

Jupiter Hammerheads (Marlins) infielder **[Echedry Vargas](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=vargas000ech&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2026-09-03_br)**
batted .386/.436/.867 and led the league in average (.386), hits (32), total bases(
72), doubles (seven), home runs (11), RBI (30), slugging percentage (.867) and OPS(
1.303). His 72 total bases led the league by 24. He recorded 11 multi-hit games 
and ended the month on a nine-game hitting streak. He had three multi-homer games
in August after having four in his career leading into August. Vargas, 21, was originally
signed by Texas as an international free agent out of Azua, Dominican Republic, 
on January 15, 2022. He was traded by Texas to Miami on December 11, 2024, in exchange
for infielder **[Jake Berger](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=berger000jak&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2026-09-03_br)**.

Tampa Tarpons (Yankees) left-hander **[Justin West](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=west--000jus&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2026-09-03_br)**
went 3-0 with a 0.79 ERA in four appearances (three starts) as he allowed two earned
runs on eight hits and five walks while striking out 28 over 22.2 innings. He led
the league in ERA (0.79), WHIP (0.57), average against (.110), hits allowed per 
nine innings (3.18), strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.60) and strikeouts per nine innings(
11.12). He finished second in wins (three) and strikeouts (28). Over his last 14.2
innings, the allowed three hits and the only run he allowed scored on a balk. West,
22, was selected by New York (AL) in the 18^(th) round of the 2025 MLB Draft out
of the University of Louisville.

**Dominican Summer League (Rookie)**

DSL Yankees infielder **[Juan Torres](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=torres013jua&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2026-09-03_br)**
batted .480/.574/.800 and led the league in hits (24), runs (19), RBI (20), total
bases (40) and doubles (seven). He was second in average (.480) and OPS (1.374),
and was third in slugging percentage (.800). He walked nine times while striking
out just three times in 61 plate appearances. He recorded eight multi-hit games 
in 13 contests, including a five-hit game on August 7 against the DSL Rangers Red
in which he also notched his first career multi-homer game. Torres, 18, was signed
by New York (AL) as an international free agent out of Jimani, Dominican Republic,
on January 24, 2025.

DSL Astros Orange right-hander **[Antonio Morales](https://www.baseball-reference.com/search/search.fcgi?pid=morale004ant,morale005ant&search=Antonio+Morales&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2026-09-03_br)**
signed by Houston as an international free agent out of Tucacas, Venezuela, on April
30, 2025.

###

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