(Press Release, Photo Credit: Allison Rhoades/Memphis Redbirds)
The St. Louis Cardinals announced today that they that they have added three additional players to their active roster with rookie infielder Greg Garcia, outfielder Tommy Pham and right-handed pitcher Sam Tuivailala (pronounced TOO-ee-vah-lah-la) being promoted from the Memphis (AAA) roster. To make room for the additional players on their 40-man Major League roster, the Cardinals designated catcher Audry Perez and outfielder Rafael Ortega for assignment. The Cardinals active roster currently stands at 36 players.
Garcia, 25, will be making his third appearance of the season with the Cardinals, while both Pham, 26, and Tuivailala, 21, will be making their Major League debuts with their first game appearances.
The left-handed hitting Garcia, who has appeared in nine games with the Cardinals this season, finished the 2014 minor league campaign with a .275 batting average, eight home runs and 41 RBI in 110 games between Memphis (AAA) and Springfield (AA). Garcia was drafted by the Cardinals in the 7th round (229th player overall) of the 2010 draft out of the University of Hawaii where he was teammates with Kolten Wong.
Pham, a 16th round (496th player overall) draft selection by the Cardinals in 2006 out of Durango High School in Las Vegas, NV, converted from shortstop to outfield in 2007 and has drawn accolades from Baseball America as one of the top defensive outfielders and top-rated outfield arms in the Cardinals organization. The right-handed hitting Pham, whose development has been slowed by multiple injuries, batted .324 (3 rd in Pacific Coast League) with 10 home runs and 44 RBI in 104 games at Memphis, leading the team in batting, stolen bases (20) and triples (6).
The 6-3, 195-pound Tuivailala was selected by the Cardinals as a shortstop in the 3rd round (106th player overall) of the 2010 draft out of Aragon High School in San Mateo, CA. He converted to a pitcher in 2012 with Johnson City (Rookie).
Tuivailala has pitched at three levels (A, AA, AAA) this season, going a combined 2-2 with a 3.15 ERA and eight saves in 48 games with Palm Beach (A), Springfield (AA) and Memphis (AAA). His 97 strikeouts in 60.0 IP this season were the most of any minor league pitcher with 60 or fewer innings pitched.
The hard-throwing Tuivailala has allowed just two home runs in his 108.1 career innings pitched and struck out 170 (14.1 strikeouts/9 IP). He recorded strikeouts in 43 of his 48 appearances this season. Tuivailala has been selected to play for the Peoria Javelinas in the prospect-laden Arizona Fall League.
Garcia wears uniform #35, while Pham has been assigned uniform #60 and Tuivailala #64.
