With the first month of the Major League Baseball season on the verge of being over, the Chicago Cubs sit atop the standings in the National League Central Division at 16 and 10. The Cubs have put up runs in bunches through out the month. And a key contributor to the run production has been the rookie from Japan, Kosuke Fukudome.

In the first week of the season, Kosuke Fukudome won over the fans of Chicago. After struggling through a tough first spring training, Fukudome charged out of the gates. In his Major League debut, Kosuke Fukudome reached base over and over, as other Cubs struggled to get a hit. And in the bottom of the ninth, Kosuke Fukudome delivered his first Major League home run, one that will not be forgot. With the Cubs trailing by 3, Fukudome tied the game with his blast, and received his first curtain call from the Cubbie faithful.

Kosuke Fukudome did not stop there. During the two weeks Kosuke was continually in contention for the Major League lead in batting average. Fukudome reached base over and over again, being very patient, and taking what pitchers would give him.

Over the next couple series, pitchers would begin to figure out the Japanese import, as Kosuke Fukudome went on a little drought and struggled to get on base. But it wasn’t long before Cubs fans saw Fukudome doing what they knew he would do best, hit and reach base safely.

During the first month Kosuke Fukudome appeared to be worth every cent of the $48 million the Chicago Cubs signed him to. Fukudome is batting .319, with an on base percentage of .434. As Kosuke Fukudome continues to perform well, and the Chicago Cubs continue to win, this is going to be a summer to remember for Cubs nation.