Leonard Named IL Player of the Month

Durham Bulls third baseman Patrick Leonard has been named the International League Player of the Month for April, the league announced Monday, becoming the first Bulls player to win the award since 2013.
The 24-year-old Leonard currently leads the International League in batting average (.412), hits (35), RBI (17), and on-base percentage (.474), is tied for the league lead in runs scored (17), is tied for second on the circuit in total bases (47) and ranks fifth in slugging percentage (.553). Additionally, Leonard is batting .385 with runners in scoring position, and .462 with runners in scoring position and two outs.
The Houston native has hit safely in 18 of 22 games played this season, and has reached safely in 21 of 22 contests. The right-handed swinger has tallied 10 multi-hit contests, and is currently in the midst of a nine-game hitting streak in which he's batting .472 (17-36). Over a three-game stretch from April 26-28, the fifth round pick of the Kansas City Royals in 2011 reached safely in 11 consecutive plate appearances, producing nine hits and drawing a pair of walks.
Leonard's performance helped the Bulls open the year with a 16-7 mark, the best record in the IL and the most wins the team has accumulated in a single month since August of 2015. Prior to Leonard, right-hander J.D. Martin was the last Bulls player to win the IL Player of the Month award, when he did so in July of 2013.