Braves and Royals complete two-player trade

Atlanta, Ga. - The Atlanta Braves and Kansas City Royals completed a two-player trade today, as Atlanta acquired minor-league shortstop Luis Valenzuela in exchange for outfielder Jonny Gomes and cash considerations. Valenzuela will be assigned to Single-A Rome.

Valenzuela, who turned 22 on August 25, batted a combined .364 (76-for-209) with 18 extra-base hits and 23 RBI between Idaho Falls (R) and Lexington (Single-A) this season. He opened the 2015 campaign by hitting safely in eight consecutive games, going 17-for-35 (.486) in that span. At the time of the trade, Valenzuela led the South Atlantic League in batting average at .339 (minimum 150 at-bats).

The 5-foot-10, 155-pound, left-handed hitter owns a .291 career minor league batting average over 126 minor league games spanning four seasons (2012-2015).  

A native of Laguna Salada, Dominican Republic, Valenzuela was signed by the Royals as a minor league free agent on November 20, 2012. He was originally signed by the Boston Red Sox as a non-drafted free agent on June 1, 2012.

Gomes signed a one-year contract with Atlanta in February 2015 and hit .223 with seven home runs and 22 RBI in 82 games for the Braves this season.