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Redbirds' Weaver tabbed May Player of the Month

Memphis RHP becomes first pitcher to win award since June 2015
Photo credit: Memphis Redbirds
June 5, 2017

ROUND ROCK, Texas - Memphis Redbirds' right-hander Luke Weaver has been elected Minor League Baseball's Pacific Coast League Player of the Month for May following a vote of PCL field managers, the League office announced Monday. Weaver, along with winners from other leagues, will be presented with an award from

ROUND ROCK, Texas - Memphis Redbirds' right-hander Luke Weaver has been elected Minor League Baseball's Pacific Coast League Player of the Month for May following a vote of PCL field managers, the League office announced Monday. Weaver, along with winners from other leagues, will be presented with an award from Minor League Baseball in recognition of his performance last month. 

Weaver started the month on the disabled listed but returned to post a PCL-best five wins in six starts. He had a 2.19 ERA in 37 innings, both totals ranking second among league hurlers. Additionally, he recorded 37 strikeouts, fourth most in the PCL, against only six walks. The 23-year-old fronted a Memphis staff that posted a 3.84 team ERA in May, the second-lowest in the League (Nashville, 3.38). The Redbirds 19-10 monthly record matched Reno for the PCL's best.
The DeLand, Florida native lasted only two innings in his Opening Day start for Memphis and missed the rest of the season's opening month with a back injury. He won each of his first three starts off the DL, allowing only one earned run in 20 innings. Weaver bounced back from his only loss of the month to win his final two starts, allowing a combined four runs in 12 innings. Weaver's month included a pair of nine-strikeout performances, May 13 vs. El Paso and May 29 vs. Iowa. He was also named the PCL Pitcher of the Week for the period of May 1-7 after a two-start performance in which he didn't allow a run or walk over 13 innings.

Weaver entered the season ranked as the Cardinals' No. 2 prospect, according to Baseball America. He is in his fourth professional season out of Florida State University after getting selected by St. Louis with the 27th overall pick of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft. He was a 2016 MiLB.com Organizational All-Star and Texas League (Double-A) postseason All-Star. Weaver made his MLB debut that season, going 1-4 with a 7.18 ERA (36.1 IP, 23 ER) and 45 strikeouts in nine games (eight starts). He is the first PCL pitcher to win this award since Iowa's Carlos Pimentel in June 2015.