Royals Naturals Extend Agreement

ROYALS EXTEND PLAYER DEVELOPMENT CONTRACT WITH NORTHWEST ARKANSAS THROUGH 2016

KANSAS CITY, MO (April 11, 2012) – The Kansas City Royals announced today that the club has extended its Player Development Contract (PDC) with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals through the 2016 season.

“We are very fortunate to have such a great facility for our Double-A team so close to our Major League home,” Royals Director of Minor League Operations Scott Sharp said.  “We attempt to put our players in big league atmospheres before they arrive in Kansas City and Northwest Arkansas allows us to do that every night.  Our partnership has been tremendous and the only reason the extension is not for longer is because of minor league baseball restrictions limiting deals of this kind to a maximum of four years.”

“We are extremely proud to continue our player development contract with the Kansas City Royals,” said Eric Edelstein, Naturals General Manager. “We have seen the Royals commitment to a world class player development system which extends beyond the field into the front office and the communities we both serve.”

Double-A Northwest Arkansas, an affiliate since 2008, has made the playoffs in each of its first four seasons, including capturing the Texas League championship in 2010.  A member of the Texas League North Division, the Naturals play their home games at Arvest Park (capacity 6,500) in Springdale, Ark.