Rookie changeup artist Shunta Wakamatsu of the Chunichi Dragons won his first pitcher of the month award on Friday, when Nippon Professional Baseball announced its honors for August.

Wakamatsu is a 20-year-old right-hander who was taught the circle change soon after joining Chunichi as its seventh pick in the 2012 draft. He went 4-1 in August with one shutout, a 2.12 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 34 innings.

He is joined on the Central League honor roll by Tokyo Yakult Swallows second baseman Tetsuto Yamada, who won for the second straight month, while the Pacific League awards went to Seibu's top draft pick last year, 18-year-old right-hander Kona Takahashi, and Fukuoka Softbank Hawks center fielder Yuki Yanagita.