Mike Piazza Powers Through July
Chicago Cubs catcher Mike Piazza was on another level in July, slugging his way to the Federal League’s Best Batter honors. He blistered opposing pitching with a .384 batting average, 13 home runs, 31 RBIs, and a .433 OBP, while scoring 20 runs and cementing his status as the league’s most dangerous bat behind the plate.
Piazza is now hitting .331 on the season, with 27 home runs, 88 RBIs, and 125 hits through just 94 games. The power is real, the consistency is terrifying—and there’s still two months to go.
Ron Gant Keeps Launching for Toronto
Toronto outfielder Ron Gant isn’t showing any signs of slowing down at age 30. The United League Best Batter for July crushed 12 home runs, batted .344, and crossed the plate 19 times in a month that reminded everyone why he’s still one of the most feared right-handed bats in the league.
Gant now owns 34 home runs on the year, despite a modest .248 batting average. He’s the kind of hitter who can change a game with one swing—and in July, he did it over and over again.
Joey Hamilton Dazzles for Cincinnati
If Joey Hamilton keeps pitching like this, the Federal League might need to rename the award.
The 24-year-old right-hander for Cincinnati was electric in July, going 4-0 with a 1.88 ERA and 43 strikeouts over 43 innings. Opponents hit just .148 against him. That’s not pitching. That’s domination.
For the season, Hamilton’s numbers now read like an ace’s resume: 15-5, 2.79 ERA, 173 strikeouts in 177.1 innings, and a stifling .190 opponent average. He’s become the guy in Cincinnati—and that’s a scary thought for the rest of the league.
Glavine Stays Perfect in July for the Mets
You can’t do better than perfect, and Tom Glavine was exactly that in July.
The New York Mets lefty went 6-0 in 6 starts, posted an absurd 0.68 ERA over 53 innings, and struck out 40 batters along the way. The man simply refused to lose.
Now 14-5 with a 2.81 ERA over 166.1 innings, Glavine is quietly putting together a Cy Young-caliber campaign—and doing it with the same grace and grit that’s defined his entire career.
Rookies Rising: Burnitz and Pettitte Shine
Jeromy Burnitz of Kansas City took home Federal League Rookie of the Month, torching pitchers in just 17 games with a .360 average, 9 home runs, and 25 RBIs. He also drew 11 walks and scored 14 runs, showcasing power and patience well beyond his years.
Across the diamond, Andy Pettitte gave the Washington Senators exactly what they needed in July—a dependable, composed young arm. The United League Rookie of the Month turned in a flawless 3-0 record, 36 strikeouts, and a 1.57 ERA over 40 innings.
What makes Pettitte’s surge even more impressive is the context. Early-season struggles tested him, but instead of wilting, he adjusted. Now boasting a 9-4 record and a 2.69 ERA through 23 starts, the 23-year-old lefty looks like the foundation of Washington’s rotation for years to come.