The St. Louis Cardinals announced Saturday their selections for Minor League Player and Pitcher of the Month for July, with outfielder Adolis Garcia (Memphis-AAA) and right-handed pitcher Daniel Poncedeleon (Memphis-AAA) taking the honors.
Poncedeleon, the Cardinals 9th round selection in the 2014 amateur draft out of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, made three starts in the month of July pitching 20.0 scoreless innings for the Redbirds including a one-hit shutout at Omaha on July 15. He currently leads the Pacific Coast League with a 2.15 ERA and ranks eighth in the league with 103 strikeouts.
The Anaheim, Calif., native was selected to the Triple-A All-Star Game in Columbus, Ohio, and threw a scoreless inning striking out the side. Following his shutout at Omaha, Poncedeleon was recalled to St. Louis for the second time this season and threw seven no-hit innings in his Major League debut at Cincinnati on July 23 before being removed for a pinch-hitter after 116 pitches. He became one of five pitchers since the expansion era began (since 1961) to throw 7.0 or more no-hit innings in his Major League debut.
"Daniel's selection of Pitcher of the Month was highlighted by his complete game one-hitter at Omaha on July 15 with his recall to St. Louis at the end of the month," stated Cardinals Director of Player Development Gary LaRocque.
Garcia, 25, a minor league free agent signing out of Ciego de Avila, Cuba, in February of 2017, batted .354 (34-96) with 10 home runs, 25 RBI, eight doubles, a triple and posted a 1.145 OPS in 25 games for Memphis.
The Redbirds right fielder finished the month on a 10-game hit streak and has extended that mark to 13 games (25- 58, .431) as of August 3. On July 26, Garcia smacked three home runs at Salt Lake and drove in eight runs. The three-home game marked the second Redbirds player to accomplish the feat in 2018 and the seventh in club history, while the eight RBI tied the club record which had not been matched in 11 years.
Garcia was one of five players to hit 10 or more home runs in the month of July in Minor League Baseball. On the 2018 season, Garcia is currently batting .272 with 21 HR and 66 RBI in 96 games, ranking 6th in the Pacific Coast League in home runs and 8th in RBI.
"Adolis' outstanding offensive month helped Memphis to a 19-8 record," credited LaRocque.