Valera Picks Up Cardinals' Monthly Honor

MEMPHIS, Tennessee - Memphis Redbirds infielder Breyvic Valera has been named the St. Louis Cardinals' Minor League Player of the Month for August, the same day he was promoted to the Cardinals for his Major League debut.

Valera becomes the fifth Redbird to earn the monthly honor from St. Louis, joining Luke Voit (April), Carson Kelly (May), Mike Mayers (June), and Harrison Bader (July).
The switch-hitter hit .346 in 25 August games, helping the Redbirds to their best record in franchise history and first division championship and playoff appearance since 2014. He also slugged five home runs and drove in 18 runs after having two home runs and 22 RBI in 89 games before August began.
At the time of his promotion to St. Louis, Valera led the Redbirds with 39 multi-hit games, including 11 three-hit games, and his .314 batting average this season was tops among all Cardinals full-season minor leaguers.
Valera is the 21st player to appear on both a Redbirds and Cardinals roster this season, and he is the ninth Redbird to make his big league debut.
This is the first organizational player of the month award for Valera. Springfield (Double-A) starting pitcher Austin Gomber was named the Cardinals' Minor League Pitcher of the Month for August.
The Redbirds face the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Brewers) in a best-of-five first round of the playoffs, beginning at AutoZone Park tomorrow at 7:05 p.m., with game one presented by Coca-Cola, and Thursday at 7:05 p.m. Playoff tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at www.memphisredbirds.com/playoffs, over the phone at (901) 721-6000, and at the AutoZone Park Box Office.