Swallows D'Antona to be July MVP

The IHT/Asahi learned that Yakult Swallows infielder Jamie D'Antona will today be named the Central League's Offensive Player of the Month for July.

D'Antona, a 27-year-old Connecticut native in his first year in Japan, hit .416 with six home runs and 25 RBIs in July. The right-handed batting first baseman has a .302 average this season with 18 homers and 66 runs driven in, both team highs, heading into Tuesday night's game in Yokohama against the BayStars.

"I had a better month than this last year (at Triple-A Tucson with the Arizona Diamondbacks organization)," said D'Antona, when asked if July was his best month as a professional. "That's probably how I ended up getting the chance to come over here."