Luis Valenzuela added to South Division All-Star Team

PEARL, MS - The Southern League announced on Friday that Mississippi Braves infielder Luis Valenzuela has been added to the South Division All-Star team. Valenzuela will join first baseman Tyler Marlette, pitchers Touki Toussaint and Jacob Webb at the All-Star Game on June 19 at Regions Field in Birmingham. Outfielder Michael Reed was selected but will not participate due to his promotion to Triple-A Gwinnett. 

Valenzuela, 24, earns his second straight Southern League All-Star Game selection and is currently batting .277 (51-for-184) with 21 runs, 10 doubles, one triple, one home run and 17 RBI in 54 games. The native of the Dominican Republic had a 10-game hitting streak from May 8-18, batting .356 over the streak with five multi-hit contests. Valenzuela recorded the sixth four-hit game of his career and first of 2018 on May 26 vs. Jacksonville going 4-for-5. Valenzuela leads the club with 15 multi-hit games in 2018. 
Last season he was named an All-Star after batting .262 (54-for-206) with 23 runs and 18 extra-base hits over 54 games in the season's first half. Valenzuela was acquired by the Braves from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for OF Jonny Gomes and cash considerations on August 31, 2015.
Valenzuela replaces Mobile's Taylor Ward who has been promoted by the Angels to Triple-A Salt Lake.