By MATT PIKE
After earning both American League Player and Rookie of the Month, the Kansas City Royals announced that Carter Jensen was named the Royals Player of the Month for September while Michael Wacha earned Pitcher of the Month honors.
Jensen batted .338 during the month of September with 10 doubles, one triple, and eight home runs while driving in 20 runs. He led the Major Leagues during September in doubles, extra base hits, slugging percentage, and OPS, and the rookie catchers 63 total bases were the most by any player in the American League and the second most in all of the MLB behind only Elly De La Cruz of the Cincinnati Reds. Jensen was also tied for second in the American League in home runs behind Baltimore's Pete Alonso, and became the first Royals hitter since Jermaine Dye to hit at least .330 with at least 19 extra-base hits and 20 RBIs, and was the first left hander to achieve the feat since Hall of Famer George Brett.
Over five starts in September, Wacha posted a 3.30 ERA across 30 innings pitched with opponents hitting .207 against the right hander which was the seventh best mark in the American League during the month. Wacha recorded three quality starts in those five outings, tied for fourth most in the American League. Wacha finished the 2026 season throwing 200.2 innings, just one of three pitchers, and the only American League pitcher, to toss at least 200.0 innings this year, joining the Miami Marlins Sandy Alcantara and Philadelphia Phillies Cristopher Sánchez. It also marked the first time a Royals pitcher fired at least 200.0 innings since Seth Lugo in 2024.
This marks Wacha’s fourth career monthly honor and his third this season, following May and June. For Jensen it's his second Royals Player of the Month award this season, following March/April. The awards are determined by a local media vote.
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