The Texas Rangers today announced the club's minor league award winners for April. Left-hander Yohander Mendez was named Pitcher of the Month, outfielder Ryan Cordell was named Player of the Month, catcher/infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa was named Defender of the Month, and left-hander Ryne Slack was named Reliever of the Month.
The 24-year-old Cordell batted .363 (29-80) with 9 doubles, a triple, 5 home runs, 22 RBI, and 20 runs scored over 21 games in April with Double-A Frisco. In April, Cordell ranked among the overall minor league leaders in SLG (5th, .688), extra-base hits (T5th, 15), runs (T10th, 20), and OPS (12th, 1.088).
Mendez, 21, was 3-0 with a 2.37 ERA (5 ER/19.0 IP) over 4 starts with High-A High Desert in April. The left-hander held opponents to a .188 average (13-69) and recorded 26 strikeouts against just 6 walks.
The 21-year-old Kiner-Falefa saw action at 4 different positions in April with Frisco, including his first professional starts at catcher. The Hawaii native committed just one error during the month as he logged time third base (12 games), catcher (4), shortstop (3), and second base (one).
Slack, 23, did not allow a run over 11.1 innings, while holding opposing batters to a .063 average (2-32) in 6 relief appearances for Frisco in April. He did not allow a hit in 7 straight appearances from April 16-May 8, a span of 10.1 innings, and opened the season with a 14.1-inning scoreless streak over his first 9 outings.