Orix Buffaloes right-hander Hiroshi Kisanuki and Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters second baseman Kensuke Tanaka on Tuesday won the Pacific League monthly MVP awards for the first time in their careers.
Kisanuki won all four of his starts and had a PL-best 1.24 ERA in June. He pitched his first complete-game shutout in seven years on June 29 against the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles.
Tanaka led the league with 43 hits and a .417 batting average while extending his hitting streak to 22 games dating back to May 22.
In the Central League, Yomiuri Giants catcher Shinnosuke Abe was named the MVP among position players after leading the CL in all three major batting categories.
Abe hit .375 with 14 home runs and 21 RBIs in 21 games to win the award for the third time.
Hanshin Tigers right-hander Yasutomo Kubo was chosen as the best-performing pitcher.
Kubo also won all four of his starts with a 2.61 ERA for his second monthly MVP honor. He won his first award in June 2005 when he was with the Chiba Lotte Marines.