GUSATAVO CHACIN
AMERICAN LEAGUE
ROOKIE OF THE MONTH

TORONTO – Pitcher Gustavo Chacin, who won four games last month for the Toronto Blue Jays, has been named the American League Rookie of the Month for April.

Chacin posted twice as many victories as any other American League rookie, going 4-1 with a 2.41 ERA. In five starts he allowed 26 hits over 32.2 IP, striking out 18 and walking just eight batters. The 24-year-old left-hander has pitched at least five innings in each of his starts this season. On April 16th, Chacin surrendered just two hits in eight scoreless innings while combining with Miguel Batista to blank the Texas Rangers, 8-0. Chacin is the fourth Blue Jay to be named Rookie of the Month since the award was started in 2001.

Other AL rookies who made an impact in April were Chicago second baseman Tadahito Iguchi (.333, 26 H, 9 RBI), Tampa Bay outfielder Johnny Gomes (.300, 5 RBI), and Oakland outfielder Nick Swisher (.218, 3 HR, 8 RBI).

Chacin will receive a specially designed trophy as the American League Rookie of the Month.

Special to Canadian Baseball News – 2 May 2005