Chicago Cubs infielder Darwin Barney was voted the National League Rookie of the Month for April.
Barney hit .326 during the month with one home run and 14 RBI, which ranked second among Major League rookies. The 25-year-old collected four doubles, two triples, 15 runs scored and one stolen base to go along with a .351 on-base percentage and a .449 slugging percentage. Before being called up last summer, Barney was the AAA leader in hits.
The Oregon State product was the Cubs fourth round pick in the 2007 Draft (you could say Darwin was “naturally selected”, and he recorded 11 multi-hit games during April, including one three-hit game on April 23rd against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Wrigley Field.
Over the three-game set against the Dodgers, Barney went 6-for-15 (.400) with five RBI. The Portland, Oregon native clubbed his first career home run, a two-run shot, on April 25th against the Colorado Rockies at home.
Darwin collected at least one RBI in five straight contests from April 20th – April 25th, totaling eight RBI during that stretch. He also recorded a seven-game hitting streak from the first game of a doubleheader on April 20th through April 26th, hitting .353 (12-for-34) during the streak. Barney’s 29 hits in the first month of the season were the most by a Cubs rookie since 2008, when Kosuke Fukudome had 32 hits. Additionally, he hit safely in 17 of his 20 starts during April, and batted .500 (10-for-20) with runners in scoring position.
Others rookies receiving votes included Washington Nationals teammates Wilson Ramos (.358, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 4 2B, .547 SLG) and Danny Espinosa (.227, 2 HR, 15 RBI, 3 2B, 2 3B, 12 R); closer Craig Kimbrel (0-1,2.31 ERA, 6 SV, 11.2 IP, 15 SO) and right-handed starting pitcher Brandon Beachy (1-1, 3.47 ERA, 36.1 IP, 36 SO) of the Braves; left-handed reliever Aroldis Chapman (2-0, 1.42 ERA, 13 G, 12.2 IP, 15 SO) of the Reds; left-handed reliever Mike Dunn (1-1, 0.00 ERA, 11 G, 9.2 IP, 14 SO) of the Marlins; right-handed reliever Brandon Kintzler (1-1, 3.65 ERA, 7 G, 12.1 IP, 14 SO) of the Brewers; and right-handed reliever Eduardo Sanchez (1-0, 1.80 ERA, 7 G, 1 SV, 10.0 IP, 17 SO).