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PCL1 Memphis Redbirds

Tuivailala, Cooney Named to PCL All-Star Team

July 1, 2015 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Memphis Redbirds News Release


Memphis Sounds Relief Pitcher Sam Tuivailala
Memphis Sounds Relief Pitcher Sam Tuivailala
(Memphis Redbirds)

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Relief pitcher Sam Tuivailala and starting pitcher Tim Cooney have been named to the Pacific Coast League All-Star team and will represent the Redbirds on the 30-man squad that takes on the International League All-Stars in the 2015 Triple-A All-Star Game on Wednesday, July 15 at Werner Park in Omaha Nebraska.

Tuivailala - who was elected as a relief pitcher for the contest by the PCL office - is 3-0 with a 1.95 ERA (6er/27.2ip) and 23 strikeouts in 29 relief outings for Memphis.

The 22-year-old right-hander co-leads the circuit in games finished (23) and is 11-for-11 in save chances, tied for third-most in the circuit.

Cooney, selected as a reserve pitcher for the contest by the PCL office, is 6-4 with a 2.74 ERA (27er/88.2ip) and 63 strikeouts in 14 starts for the Redbirds this season.

The left-hander leads the league in WHIP (0.87) and average against (.195), is 6th in ERA, and is allowing the fewest baserunners per nine innings (8.22) among all starting pitchers.

This is the first All-Star recognition for Tuivailala in his four-year professional career, who was drafted as a shortstop by the Cardinals in the third round in the June, 2010 First-Year Player Draft out of Aragon (Calif.) High School. The flamethrower converted to pitcher during the 2012 season and made the jump from Rookie-level Johnson City to St. Louis in just three seasons (87 appearances).

The All-Star nod is the second honor for Cooney in his professional career. He was named to the Texas League Mid-Season All-Star squad with the Double-A Springfield Cardinals in 2013.

Cooney is in his fourth professional season in the Cardinals organization. The Collegeville, Pa. native was drafted by St. Louis in the third round in the June, 2012 First-Year Player Draft out of Wake Forest University.

Entering the 2015 season, Baseball America recognized Cooney as the Cardinals' No. 7 prospect and as having the organization's "Best Control." The same publication rated Tuivailala as the No. 8 prospect and as having the "Best Fastball."

Both members of the St. Louis' 40-man roster, Tuivailala and Cooney are two of 11 total Redbirds to be promoted to St. Louis this season and contribute to the first-place Cardinals.

The 2015 Triple-A All-Star Game will be broadcast live on MLB Network as well as on the radio on Sports 56 WHBQ at 7 p.m. CT.

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Images from this story

Memphis Sounds Pitcher Tim Cooney
Memphis Sounds Pitcher Tim Cooney
 Memphis Sounds Relief Pitcher Sam Tuivailala
Memphis Sounds Relief Pitcher Sam Tuivailala
  



Pacific Coast League Stories from July 1, 2015


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