NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The St. Louis Cardinals announced Tuesday morning from Baseball’s Winter Meetings that they have acquired infielder Jedd Gyorko and cash considerations from the San Diego Padres in exchange for outfielder Jon Jay.

Gyorko, 27, who is under contract thru 2019, was a National League Rookie of the Year finalist in 2013 and has batted .236 with 49 home runs and 171 RBI in 364 career games with the Friars.  He is ranked 4th among active Major League second basemen in HR’s since debuting in 2013.

The right-handed hitting Gyorko hit a career-high 23 home runs during his 2013 rookie campaign, setting the Padres single-season record for home runs by a second baseman while batting .249 with 63 RBI.  He was the first San Diego rookie to lead the team in HR’s since former St. Louisan Nate Colbert did so in 1969.

In 128 games this past season, the Morgantown, WV native hit .247 with 16 round-trippers and 57 RBI, appearing at second base, shortstop and first base.   Over his three seasons with the Padres, Gyorko has played 319 games at second base, 29 at shortstop and 13 at third base.   He ranked 2ndamong N.L. second basemen in fielding pct. (.992) in 2014.

The 5-10, 205-pound Gyorko was the Padres 2nd round (59th player overall) draft selection in 2010 out of West Virginia University.  He was named the recipient of the Brooks Wallace Award as the nation’s top NCAA Division I shortstop following his 2010 junior season with the Mountaineers.

Jay, 30, was a member of the Cardinals since his draft selection in 2006 and was a key member of Cardinals’ World Series teams in both 2011 & 2013.

— Cardinals Press Release —