Wong Named NL Rookie of the Month, Hits Grand Slam

***Updated 5:02 p.m.***

This is a Tuesday Kolten Wong will remember.

After being named the National League’s Rookie of the Month for May earlier in the day, the St. Louis Cardinals’ second-baseman hit his first major league home run.

And it was a grand slam to boot.

The homer came on an 0-1 count in the second inning of the game against Kansas City.

Posted 10:47 a.m.:

No matter your feelings on whether Kolten Wong should’ve been demoted to the minor leagues earlier this year, the Hilo native has left no doubt that he has returned to the big league level with a new sense of confidence.

Wong was named the National League Rookie of the Month for May, according to a release from Major League Baseball. In 13 games following his return from the Memphis Redbirds, the Cardinals’ Triple-A minor league affiliate, Wong has hit .333 with six runs batted in, five stolen bases, and seven runs scored.

Wong returned to the majors on May 16 in a home game against Atlanta. He picked up a pair of hits in four at-bats while scoring a run and stealing a base. His two-hit night started an eight game hitting streak.

Wong’s best performance of the month came against the New York Yankees on May 28. He hit 4-for-5 in the final game of the three game series, scoring a run and driving in another.

On the season, Wong is hitting .268 with 11 runs batted in. He has eight stolen bases and 12 runs scored.

Wong is currently penciled in Tuesday’s starting lineup against the Kansas City Royals. The Cardinals’ second baseman is scheduled to hit second in the lineup against Kansas City starter James Shields. First pitch is scheduled for 1:15 p.m. Hawai`i time.