Royals name Orlando, Kennedy top player, pitcher of May
Paulo Orlando, who opened the season in primarily a platoon role, and Ian Kennedy, the Royals' top offseason free-agent acquisition, were recognized Thursday for their strong performances in May, being named the team's player and pitcher, respectively, of the month.
The player award is determined by a combined fan and media vote, and the pitcher award is voted on by local media.
Orlando hit .429 (27 for 63) in May, which tied for the best batting average in the majors. He ended the month on a career-high 14-game hitting streak in which he hit .444 (24 for 54). Orlando matched career highs with three hits and four RBIs on May 17, a game in which he became the third No. 9 hitter in Royals history to record a triple and a home run in the same game. This is his first career Royals Player of the Month honor.
Orlando shared the right-field position with Jarrod Dyson early in the season but has been a regular fixture there since Alex Gordon (wrist fracture) went on the disabled list and opened the left-field job for Dyson.
Kennedy went 2-1 with a 3.24 ERA (12 earned runs in 33 1/3 innings) in six May starts, holding opponents to a .214 average. The Royals went 5-1 in his starts, including a 7-0 win at Cleveland on May 7 in which he recorded seven shutout innings, and his May 30 start vs. Tampa Bay in which he held the Rays to one unearned run in six innings. His 9.72 strikeouts-per-nine ratio in May ranked fifth among American League starting pitchers behind Danny Salazar, Cole Hamels, Michael Fulmer and Chris Sale. This is his first career Royals Pitcher of the Month honor.
