The Arizona Diamondbacks have named catcher Christian Cerda and right-handed pitcher Joe Elbis of the High-A Hillsboro Hops as their Minor League Player and Pitcher of the Month for June.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Christian Cerda, a 21-year-old catcher from the Bronx, posted an impressive .382 average (21-for-55) and a .907 OPS over 18 games in June. Against right-handed pitchers, Cerda excelled, hitting .378 (17-for-45) with an OPS of .863. He also enjoyed a six-game hitting streak from June 14-22, during which he batted .500 (10-for-20) with a 1.100 OPS, contributing two RBIs and drawing five walks.
His performance was highlighted by seven multi-hit games and strong showings both at home and on the road. Cerda is currently playing his first full season with the Hillsboro Hops in High-A. His .382 batting average in June marked a significant improvement from his early-season struggles, where he posted a .136 average in April and a .212 average in May.
Cerda was acquired by the Diamondbacks in 2022 from the Rays as part of the trade that sent David Peralta to Tampa.
On the other hand, Joe Elbis, a 21-year-old right-handed pitcher from Venezuela, achieved a 4-1 record with a 2.08 ERA over 34.2 innings in five starts. His consistent performances included five quality starts and an opponent batting average of .227. During this period, Elbis walked just eight batters while striking out 29.
His season ERA sits at 2.52, and he leads the Hops with seven wins. Elbis was originally signed by the Diamondbacks in 2019.
