RHP David Ledbetter and INF Alex Buchholz among July Minor League Awards winners

Arlington, Texas - The Texas Rangers announced today the club's minor league award winners for July. Right-hander David Ledbetter was named Pitcher of the Month, infielder Alex Buchholz was named Player of the Month, outfielder Lewis Brinson was named Defender of the Month, and right-hander Francisco Mendoza was named Reliever of the Month.

Ledbetter, 21, was 3-1 with a 2.59 ERA (7 ER/24.1 IP) and 26 strikeouts against 7 walks, while holding opposing Northwest League batters to a .230 average (20-87) over 5 games/starts with Spokane in July. The Indiana native won 3 consecutive starts from July 3-16, including a 5.0-inning, one-hit effort on July 16 vs. Tri-City. He posted a 1.20 ERA (2 ER/15.0 IP) with 16 strikeouts against 3 walks during that stretch. Overall, Ledbetter has gone 3-1 with a 2.18 ERA (10 ER/41.1 IP) and 41 strikeouts against 11 walks in 9 games/starts this season. Ledbetter ranks among the NWL leaders in ERA (4th, 2.18), strikeouts (4th, 81), and WHIP (7th, 1.02). The right-hander was selected to the Northwest League All-Star Game this week, tossing a scoreless 3rd inning for the North Division. Ledbetter was selected in the 3rd round of the 2013 June draft out of Cedarville (Ohio) University and signed by Roger Coryell.

Buchholz, 25, combined to bat .347 (34-98) with 9 doubles, 6 home runs, 15 RBI, 15 runs, and 8 walks over 26 games with Double-A Frisco and Triple-A Round Rock in the month of July. The 6 home runs by Buchholz raised his season total to a career-high 15, eclipsing his previous best of 8 with Bakersfield in 2010. He hit a pair of long balls in Frisco's 4-3 victory over Midland in game one of a doubleheader on July 17, including a walk-off home run in the 9th inning. Buchholz hit safely in 21 of 26 games in July, including a 9-game hit streak from July 4-13, during which he batted .432 (16-37). Overall, Buchholz has combined to bat .281 (105-374) with 25 doubles, a triple, 15 home runs, 50 RBI, and 48 runs in 100 games with the 'Riders and Express. He was selected from Cincinnati in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 Draft on December 8, 2011.

Brinson, 19, started 24 games in center field for Low-A Hickory in the month of July. The Florida native committed just 2 errors in 65 total chances in the outfield, while also recording a pair of outfield assists. Brinson has totaled 8 outfield assists overall, 2nd-most on the Crawdads. Brinson was recently voted the top defensive outfielder in the South Atlantic League in Baseball America's "Best Tools" survey. At the plate, Brinson is batting .232 (85-367) with 54 runs, 13 doubles, 2 triples, 19 home runs, 43 RBI, and 18 stolen bases in 100 games with Hickory. Since returning from the disabled list on Tuesday, he has gone 3-for-6 with 5 runs, 2 home runs, 4 RBI, 4 walks, and a stolen base in 2 games. Brinson was selected in the first round (29th overall) of the 2012 June Draft and signed by Frankie Thon.

Mendoza, 25, permitted just one unearned run and whiffed 16 batters over 13.1 innings of work in 10 relief appearances with High-A Myrtle Beach in July. The right-hander converted 6 of 7 save chances during the month, recording the 2nd-most saves in the Carolina League in July. Mendoza stranded 7 of 10 inherited runners, while holding opponents to a .227 average (10-44). He was promoted to Double-A Frisco on August 1 and has gone 3-3 with a 3.38 ERA (15 ER/40.0 IP), 7 saves, and 50 strikeouts in 29 relief appearances overall between Myrtle Beach and Frisco. The Dominican Republic native was signed as a non-drafted free agent on May 19, 2008 by Rodolfo Rosario.

TRANSACTIONS: INF Ryan Rua promoted to Frisco from Hickory…RHP Chi Chi Gonzalez active in Myrtle Beach…RHP Paul Schwendel transferred to Hickory from Myrtle Beach…3B Joey Gallo activated from disabled list at Hickory…OF Nick Williams activated from disabled list at Hickory…OF Jordan Akins transferred to Spokane from Hickory…OF Hirotoshi Onaka transferred to AZL from Hickory.