This past month has been filled with plenty of outstanding performances across the MLB. But who will come out of the month and be crowned the Lightning Program Boss?
Each month, MLB The Show highlights players who performed well over the last month. The best player is awarded the Lightning Program Boss. The next group of players is considered the high overall tier and the next group is the low overall tier.
This year we’ve seen both of our Lightning Bosses come from the American League East. Our April boss came from the Bronx with Anthony Rizzo and the May boss was the young stud, Rafael Devers. But who will we see this month?
Who deserves the ⚡💎⚡ for his MLB performance in June?
Find out tomorrow when the June Monthly Awards program arrives!#MLBTheShow pic.twitter.com/zpWNfdxIKE
— MLB The Show (@MLBTheShow) July 5, 2022
Low Tier Overall Players
For this category discuss three players who deserve to have a lower-tier card. First up is Dansby Swanson, who has really turned around his season. After starting unusually slow, Swanson has picked up the pace over the last month, hitting .330 with seven home runs and 19 RBIs. Those are the type of numbers we’re used to seeing out of Swanson and are numbers deserving of a monthly card. He deserves it, but he also did get one last month, so it might be unlikely.
Next up is the Boston Red Sox eighth-inning man, John Schreiber. Schreiber is not a well-known name, but he has been great this past month. In June, Schreiber made 14 appearances and recorded 10 holds. Oh, and Schreiber also didn’t allow a single run all month while striking out 15.
Lastly, is the Miami speedster, Jon Berti. Berti isn’t what you call a power guy since he finished the month without any home runs. But with a .297 batting average and .360 OBP, Berti gets one. Once he’s on base, then he makes a difference. He recorded 18 stolen bases on 19 attempts in June. Berti’s speed and efficiency on the bases should earn him a card in this monthly program.
High Tier Overall Players
For this category, we will also discuss three players who we think deserve a spot as high-tier players. Our first choice is the Chicago White Sox Ace, Dylan Cease. Cease only allowed one earned run the entire month with a 0.33 ERA. Cease started five games and in total through 27 innings with 45 strikeouts.
The next player up comes from the north, Alejandro Kirk. The Toronto catcher has been a surprising stud this year. Over June, Kirk hit .341 with seven home runs and 18 RBIs. To go along with an already impressive batting average, Kirk also had a .451 OBP. Kirk’s ability to get on base and drive the ball should earn him a spot in the monthly program.
Our last player is another surprise this year, Tony Gonsolin. Not only in the month of June, but in the entire season, Gonsolin is yet to lose a game. So far he is 10-0. But in June, he went 4-0 in his five starts. Gonsolin finished the month with a 1.24 ERA and 25 strikeouts. Gonsolin deserves to have a card in the June Monthly Program.
Lightning Player
Our prediction for the June Lightning Player is Yordan Alvarez. Alvarez was outstanding throughout the entire month. He had a .418 average during June with nine home runs and 28 RBIs. What is even more impressive is his OBP, which was at .510. Alvarez got on base over half the time, throughout an entire month. It would come as no surprise to see Alvarez come away as the Lightning player this month.
