Cardinals honor top minor league players

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Allen Craig, who led Triple-A Memphis in all three triple crown categories, is the St. Louis Cardinals' minor league player of the year.

The Cardinals announced the award Monday, and also named Lance Lynn as minor league pitcher of the year.

Craig is 25. He hit .322 with 26 home runs and 83 RBIs for Memphis, where he split time between first base, third base and the outfield. He has hit over .300 with more than 20 homers and 80 RBIs in each of his three full minor league seasons.

Lynn is a 22-year-old right-hander in just his second professional season. He climbed three levels of the minor leagues in 2009, going a combined 11-4 with a 2.85 ERA at Class A Palm Beach, Double-A Springfield and Triple-A Memphis.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)