Bandes named Appy League Player of the Week

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - The Appalachian League announced Monday that Johnson City Cardinals 1B Luis Bandes has been named the circuit's Player of the Week for the time period between July 10-16. This is the first weekly honor for a Johnson City player this season and the first since RHP Jhonatan Escudero received the league's Pitcher of the Week award in August of 2015.
In five games this week, Bandes led the Appy League in home runs (3) and was tied for the circuit's best with 11 RBI. In addition, the 21-year-old slugger ranked second in the league in slugging percentage (.880) and hits (12) and third in batting average (.480) and OPS (1.360). 
The award is the first of Bandes' five-year professional career. The honor is the first received by a Johnson City position player since INF Allen Staton earned the award in August of 2015. 
Bandes is in his second season with Johnson City and entering tonight the Venezuelan swinger sits third in the Appy League in slugging percentage (.623) and fourth in batting average (.391) over his first 17 games. Overall, Bandes has 27 hits, nine runs scored, three home runs and 19 RBI for the Redbirds.
Last season with the Cardinals, Bandes batted just .231 (36-156) with 22 runs scored, seven doubles, four home runs and 17 RBI in 44 games for the eventual league champions.
The Cardinals wrap up their three-game set with the Kingsport Mets, the rookie affiliate of the New York Mets, on Monday night at Hunter Wright Stadium. RHP Edwar Ramirez (1-3, 5.82 ERA) is slated to toe the rubber for the Redbirds, while RHP Ezequiel Zabaleta (0-1, 6.86 ERA) is projected to get the ball for the K-Mets. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET.
Following the six-game road trip, the Redbirds will return home for a six-set homestand, starting with a three-contest series against the Danville Braves, the rookie affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, starting on Friday, July 21. It will be Salute to Heroes Night at the ballpark, as Johnson City will honor veterans past and present with select discounts inside the stadium. Following that night's game, there will be a spectacular Fireworks Show presented by Xtreme Painting.
Single-game tickets are still available and can be purchased online at JCCardinals.com or by calling the Cardinals' Ticket Office at (423) 461-4866.
ABOUT THE JOHNSON CITY CARDINALS
The Johnson City Cardinals are the Rookie affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. Members of the ten-team Appalachian League, Cardinals baseball has been entertaining families and fans of America's national pastime in the East Tennessee region for 80 years. To learn more about the Johnson City Cardinals, visit www.jccardinals.com.