PCL Names Players of the Week
July 8, 2013 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1) News Release
ROUND ROCK, Texas - Alex Castellanos of the Albuquerque Isotopes and Tyler Lyons of the Memphis Redbirds were the top performers last week in the Pacific Coast League from July 2nd to 8th, and today the league office recognized their efforts by naming them the Player and Pitcher of the Week respectively.
Castellanos becomes the third Isotopes player to win the weekly award this season, joining Tim Federowicz and Scott Van Slyke. The Albuquerque outfielder smashed three home runs in six games last week, while batting .417 and knocking in seven RBI. Castellanos had 10 hits on the week and had four multi-hit games. He capped off the week by hitting a home run in three consecutive games against the Iowa Cubs. This marks the second time Castellanos has taken home the PCL Player of the Week award, having received the honor in April 2012 as well.
Born in Miami, Florida, Castellanos was drafted in the 10th round of the 2008 draft by the St. Louis Cardinals out of Belmont Abbey College and acquired by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2011 for Raphael Furcal and cash. Last season he batted .328 with 12 home runs for Albuquerque and made his Major League debut on May 31st, 2012. One day later he got his first hit, an RBI triple off of Carlos Torres of the Colorado Rockies. Castellanos is currently hitting .284 with 12 home runs and 38 RBI.
Lyons put together a pair of great outings for the Redbirds last week, collecting a no-decision against Iowa and a victory against Nashville while posting a 1.80 ERA. On Monday at Iowa, the left-hander shut out the Cubs over seven innings, allowing just two hits and two walks while striking out nine. He followed that up on Saturday with eight strong innings at home, striking out nine Sounds while allowing just three runs off two hits and one walk. His 18 strikeouts were easily tops in the league, and his WHIP (0.47) and average against (.083) were good for second.
Born in Lubbock, TX, Lyons was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the ninth round of the 2010 draft out of Oklahoma State University. On May 22nd of this year he made his Major League debut and earned his first career win after pitching seven stellar innings in which he only gave up one run off four hits against the San Diego Padres. Lyons is 4-1 with a 3.42 ERA in 11 starts for Memphis this season.
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Pacific Coast League Stories from July 8, 2013
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