In a year that has been filled with big moments for Bobby Witt Jr, the milestones keep on coming.

 

The Royals star shortstop was named the American League Player of the Month for July, the first Royal to earn the award since Billy Butler in 2009.

 

Witt was the best hitter in baseball last month, leading the league with 44 hits, 10 more than the next nearest player. It was the most hits in a month for a Royals player since Johnny Damon in August of 2000.

 

The team also revealed that Witt's .489 batting average was the second-higest in a month in franchise history. No player in the MLB has recorded 44 hits and a .489 batting average in a single month, since Lou Gehrig in 1930.

 

Witt and the Royals hold a 1.5 game lead for the final playoff spot in the American League. They begin a series against the St. Louis Cardinals tomorrow night.