Updated

Atlanta Braves outfielder Justin Upton has been selected as the National League's Player of the Month for April following a sensational start to his 2013 season.

Upton led the majors with 12 home runs and a .734 slugging percentage in 26 games, with his efforts helping Atlanta record an NL-best 17-9 record. The 25- year-old also tied for the league lead with 22 runs scored while batting .298 with 19 RBI and a .402 on-base percentage.

Upton's 12 homers were two shy of a major league record for April, and the former Arizona Diamondback became the first player in MLB history to hit five homers in his first five games with a team.

Others receiving consideration for the award included Washington's Bryce Harper, Cincinnati's Shin-Soo Choo, John Buck of the New York Mets, Milwaukee's Yuniesky Betancourt, Colorado's Wilin Rosario and San Francisco's Pablo Sandoval.