Right-handed pitcher Taj Bradley has been named the American League Pitcher of the Month for July, Major League Baseball announced today, the first monthly award of his career.

Bradley went 3-1 with a 1.45 ERA (31.0IP, 5ER) with 31 strikeouts, eight walks and only two home runs allowed during the month. He paced the AL in both ERA and opponent batting average (.160, 17-for-106) while posting the third-lowest WHIP (0.81). From July 6-31, he recorded a 24.0 scoreless inning streak, the third-longest single-season streak in franchise history behind J.P. Howell (27.1P) in 2012 and Alex Cobb (24.1IP) in 2014. From July 12-25, he became the fourth pitcher in Rays history to record three consecutive scoreless starts of 6.0 innings or more, joining Ryan Yarbrough (2019), Jake Odorizzi (2016) and Cobb (2014).

His 1.45 ERA was third lowest in Rays history during July (min. 20.0IP), trailing only Chris Archer (0.73) in 2013 and Jeff Niemann (1.06) in 2011. Under the same parameter, it marked the lowest ERA by a Ray in a calendar month since Shane McClanahan (1.15) in May 2022.

Bradley is the ninth Rays pitcher (11th instance) to be named American League Pitcher of the Month, joining Tyler Glasnow (July 2023 & April 2019), Blake Snell (Aug. & Sept. 2018), Drew Rasmussen (Aug. 2022), Rich Hill (May 2021), Archer (July 2013), Jeremy Hellickson (May 2011), David Price (Sept. 2010) and Scott Kazmir (May 2008). The 23-year-old is the youngest player in franchise history to earn a player or pitcher of the month honor. Excluding the shortened 2020 campaign, this marks the fifth consecutive full season in which the Rays have had a pitcher win a monthly award.