Bay named N.L. rookie of month

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Pirates left fielder and former Gonzaga standout Jason Bay was named the National League’s rookie of the month for June on Saturday.

Bay, 25, missed all of April recovering from off-season shoulder surgery and struggled in May, but batted .273 and led all N.L. rookies with seven home runs and 17 RBIs.

“It’s definitely a nice honor,” Bay said. “It’s nice to have a little success to breed confidence. The first month or so I was here I wasn’t really confident.”

Bay got a head start on the competition for July honors, going 4 for 5 with three doubles and eight RBIs last Friday against Milwaukee.

“I’m just trying to do what I can do,” Bay said after what was his second eight-RBI performance. “This is definitely a rarity.”

Heading into Monday, Bay was leading all N.L. rookies with 10 home runs, 35 RBIs, a .374 on-base percentage and a .619 slugging percentage.

Still, Bay downplays his chances of becoming Pittsburgh’s first rookie of the year.

“A month ago, it was a non-issue,” Bay said. “Now it has come to the forefront. I’ve still got three months of baseball left.”