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SAL1 Lexington Legends

Legends Shortstop Valenzuela Part of KC Trade with Atlanta

September 1, 2015 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Lexington Legends News Release


When the Kansas City Royals acquired veteran major league outfielder Jonny Gomes from Atlanta last night to add depth in their push toward the postseason, the Lexington Legends lost their regular shortstop. Luis Valenzuela of the Legends went to the Braves' organization in return for Gomes.

Valenzuela was removed from the Legends game at West Virginia Monday night in the seventh inning when the team learned of the trade. He will be assigned by Atlanta to the Rome Braves of the South Atlantic League, whom he played against this year as a member of the Legends.

All baseball personnel with the Legends are under contract to the Royals, and trades, callups and other roster moves are made by Royals' officials.

"This trade is a good example of how closely the Legends' players are connected to the big leagues," said Legends President/CEO Andy Shea. "In this case, the Legends shortstop is part of an important trade for the Royals as they try to get back to the World Series. We see scouts from major league organizations at our games throughout the year, and sometimes a major trade can happen as a result of that."

Gomes, 34, has played in 82 games for the Braves this season, batting .223 with seven doubles, seven homers and 22 RBI to go along with 28 walks for a .327 on-base percentage. He's in his 13th major league season and has participated in the postseason in four of the last five years, including the 2013 season, when he was a member of the World Series champion Boston Red Sox. He's reached double digits in home runs in eight of his 12 full seasons, which includes a career-high 21 with Tampa Bay in 2005. Gomes is a career .242 hitter with 162 homers and 522 RBI in 1,190 games, playing for the Rays (2003-08), Reds (2009-11), A's (2012, 2014), Red Sox (2013-14) and Braves (2015).

Valenzuela, 22, was hitting .339 in 47 games at Lexington this season. In the month of August, he batted .379 (39 for 103) in 28 games with three home runs and 11 runs batted in.

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