RHP C.J. Edwards and of Joey Butler among winners of club's April Minor League Awards

May 9, 2013

The Texas Rangers announced today the club's minor league award winners for April. Right-hander C.J. Edwards was named Pitcher of the Month, outfielder Joey Butler was named Player of the Month, catcher Tomas Telis was named Defender of the Month, and right-hander Randy Henry was named Reliever of the Month.

Edwards, 21, was 1-1 with a 1.93 ERA (5 ER/23.1 IP) and 29 strikeouts against 7 walks, while holding opposing South Atlantic League batters to a .176 average (15-85) over 5 games/starts with Low-A Hickory. The South Carolina native ranked among the SAL leaders in strikeouts (3rd), opponent average (.176), and ERA (10th) during the month. Edwards allowed exactly one run in 4 of his 5 starts, while recording 6-or-more strikeouts in each of those outings. Overall, Edwards has gone 2-1 with a 2.51 ERA (8 ER/28.2 IP) and 31 strikeouts against just 9 walks in 6 games/starts this season. This is the second monthly award in Edwards' career after claiming Pitcher of the Month honors last July as well. Edwards was selected in the 48th round of the 2011 June draft out of Mid-Carolina (SC) High School and signed by Chris Kemp.

Butler, 27, batted .341 (30-88) with 16 runs, 13 walks, 6 doubles, 3 home runs, and 12 RBI over 25 games with Triple-A Round Rock in the month of April. Butler reached base safely in 22 of 25 games, hitting safely in 20 contests. The Mississippi native had hit safely in 5 straight games at .421 (8-19) prior to a trip to the disabled list on May 1. Overall, the University of New Orleans product ranks among the PCL leaders in on-base percentage (10th, .433) and batting (13th, .341). Butler was selected in the 15th round of the 2008 June draft and signed by Randy Taylor.

Telis, 21, started 14 games behind the plate for Double-A Frisco in the month of April. The Venezuela native threw out 10 of 18 (55.6%) would-be base stealers during the month and compiled a 1.000 fielding percentage (140 TC). Overall, Telis rates statistically as the top defensive catcher in the Texas League and owns the highest caught stealing percentage on the circuit at 46.2% (12 CS/26 ATT). At the plate, Telis is batting .247 (18-73) with 7 runs, 6 doubles, 11 RBI over 19 games with the RoughRiders. Telis was signed as a non-drafted free agent on July 2, 2007.

Henry, 22, allowed just one unearned run over 18.1 innings of work and 6 relief appearances with Double-A Frisco in April. The right-hander compiled 20 strikeouts against just one walk, while holding Texas League batters to a .200 average (13-65). The Shattuck, Oklahoma native opened the season with a 12.1-inning scoreless streak and tossed multiple innings in 5 of the 6 outings. Overall, Henry has gone 1-0 with a 0.74 ERA (2 ER/24.1 IP) and 24 strikeouts against 4 walks in 8 appearances out of the bullpen for Frisco. Henry was acquired from Baltimore in a 3-player trade on December 1, 2011.

LEWIS TO BEGIN REHAB: RHP Colby Lewis will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Round Rock in Las Vegas at 9:05 PM CT…the right-hander will start for the Express against the 51's (New York-NL) tonight.

TRANSACTIONS: OF Hirotoshi Onaka promoted to Round Rock from extended spring training.

COACHING SHUFFLE: 3B coach Gary Pettis will miss Friday's game to attend the graduation of his daughter Paige from the University of Arizona...Dave Anderson move from the 1B to the 3B coaching box and Frisco manager Steve Buechele will coach 1B on Friday…Jason Hart will manage the RoughRiders on Friday...Pettis returns Saturday, when pitching coach Mike Maddux will be absent as his daughter Makayla graduates from TCU...Bullpen coach Andy Hawkins will assume Maddux's duties on Saturday with Texas minor league pitching coordinator Danny Clark joining the club as bullpen coach for one night.