SPRINGDALE, Ark. – The Naturals’ parent club, the Kansas City Royals announced  that starting pitcher Danny Duffy will begin his Major League rehab assignment with the Naturals on Sunday against the San Antonio Missions.

Duffy is expected to be with the Naturals for their upcoming homestand that begins on Tuesday May 28^th.

Last season the hard-throwing lefthander made the Royals starting rotation out of Spring Training and made six starts, going 2-2 with a 3.90 ERA, striking out 28 batters in 27⅔ innings, before being placed in the Disabled List on May 14 with a left elbow injury and undergoing Tommy John surgery on June 13.

A major contributor on the Naturals Texas League Championship team, Duffy made two post-season starts and earned the win in the opening game of the Texas League Championship Series against the Midland RockHounds. Duffy went 5-2 with a 2.95 ERA in seven regular season starts with the Naturals in 2010.

Duffy is the second former Natural to return to the team on a rehab assignment, joining Greg Holland who returned to Northwest Arkansas for two games in 2012.

The Southern California-native will wear number 41 for the Naturals. The Naturals roster is at the Texas League limit of 25 players, plus Duffy who is on a Major League rehab assignment.

The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are the Double-A Texas League Affiliate of the Kansas City Royals and proud host of the 77^th Annual Texas League All Star Game. The Naturals play at state-of-the-art Arvest Ballpark in Springdale, AR. For more information including statistics, ticket options, and more, please visit NWANaturals.com, and follow us on Twitter @NWANaturals and Facebook.com/Naturals.

Terry Bradshaw Named Coach of the Year
Bradshaw Named Mike CoolBaugh Texas League Coach of the Year

SPRINGDALE, AR – The Northwest Arkansas Naturals hitting Coach Terry Bradshaw has been named the Mike Coolbaugh Texas League Coach of the Year.  The award is named for Mike Coolbaugh, a longtime Minor League player who died at age 35 when he was struck by a batted ball while coaching first base for Tulsa on July 22, 2007.

The Mike Coolbaugh award began being presented in 2008.  The award goes to an individual who has “shown outstanding baseball work ethic, knowledge of the game, and skill mentoring young players.”

Terry was selected in recognition of his continuing record of success with hitters in the Kansas City system.  He has consistently helped young hitters adjust to the Double-A level and advance to Triple-A, ready to continue the success they attained in the Texas League.

While, 2012 has been less successful for the Naturals than previous seasons, Bradshaw has continued to patiently prepare his charges for the next level, this past season, most notably Wil Myers, who became a sensation in the Pacific Coast League after he tore through the Texas League during the first five weeks of the 2012 season, hitting .343, with 13 home runs and 30 RBI in 35 games.

During his five years in the Texas League, the list of current Major League players Bradshaw has helped fine tune include Mike Moustakas, Salvador Perez, Alex Gordon, and Eric Hosmer, the core of future success of the Kansas City Royals.

Prior to coaching in Northwest Arkansas, Bradshaw spent five years as the hitting coach for Triple-A Omaha and spent four other seasons as a hitting coach in the Royals organization: Wilmington (2002-2003), Burlington (2001), and Charleston (2000).

The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are the Double-A Texas League affiliate of the Kansas City Royals and play at state-of-the-art Arvest Ballpark, located in Springdale.  Visit our website, nwanaturals.com, for information on season tickets and ticket plans.

Royals Renew Player Development Contract With Omaha Through 2016

KANSAS CITY, MO (June 19, 2012) – The Kansas City Royals announced today that the club has extended its Player Development Contract (PDC) with Omaha through the 2016 season.

Triple-A Omaha, an affiliate from the inception of the two franchises in 1969, won the 2011 Pacific Coast League Championship after compiling a 79-63 regular season record.  Omaha is currently in first place in the PCL’s American North Division with a 44-27 mark on the season.  The Storm Chasers announced their new ownership group, Alliance Baseball Omaha LLC, on Tuesday.

“Omaha has an outstanding new facility and a great management team in place,” said Scott Sharp, Royals Director of Minor League Operations.  “The club announced new ownership partners today, making this a perfect time for the Royals to show our continued commitment to the Omaha area.”

“Having been affiliated with Kansas City since 1969, there was never a question of if we were going to extend the PDC, but when,” said Omaha President and General Manager Martie Cordaro.  “In my 14 years of Minor League Baseball, I have never personally experienced such a great relationship with a Major League affiliate. We are excited to extend our partnership with the Royals.”

SPRINGDALE, AR - The Naturals’ parent club, the Kansas City Royals announced a pair transactions on Wednesday morning affecting the Northwest Arkansas roster.  Outfielder Wil Myers has been promoted to Triple-A Omaha, and outfielder Nick Van Stratten has been transferred from Extended Spring Training to Northwest Arkansas.

Myers spent the early part of the 2012 season terrorizing Texas League pitching.  At the time of his promotion he ranked tops in the league in hitting at .343, extra base hits (25), and runs scored with (32) second in home runs (13), third in RBI (30), second in hits (46).

The outfielder leaves Northwest Arkansas with 21 career home runs with the Naturals.  The 21 home runs tie him for the sixth most in Naturals history with Corey Smith, and current Kansas City Royal Mike Moustaksas.  Myers was originally selected by the Kansas City Royals in the third round of the 2009 draft.

Odorizzi, 22, leaves Northwest Arkansas with a 4-2 record and 3.32 ERA in seven starts.  He is second in the Texas League in strikeouts (47) and fourth in WHIP (0.97).  He has been most impressive over his last four starts, going 3-1 with a 1.98 ERA, allowing six earned runs in 27.1 innings for a 1.98 ERA while fanning 33.  Odorizzi has limited opposing hitters to a collective .191 batting average through his first seven assignments.  He was acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers on December 19, 2010, along with Lorenzo Cain, Alcides Escobar and Jeremy Jeffress in exchange for Zack Greinke and Yuniesky Betancourt.  Odorizzi was the 32^nd overall pick of the Brewers in the 2008 First Year Player Draft and he also had a taste of big league spring training this year as a non-roster invitee.

Nick Van Stratten returns to Northwest Arkansas after starting the season in extended spring training, after suffering a spring injury.  Van Stratten spent parts of the last two seasons in Northwest Arkansas appearing in 68 games in 2011, and 86 games in 2010.  The outfielder’s best year in Double-A came in 2010 when he hit .262 with two home runs and 34 RBI for the Naturals.  Van Stratten was originally selected by the Kansas City Royals in the tenth round of the 2006 draft.

Van Stratten will wear number nine for the Naturals, and there is another number change to report as Ethan Hollingsworth will now wear number 36.  Following the transaction, the Naturals’ roster is at the Texas League limit of 25 active players.

The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are the Double-A Texas League affiliate of the Kansas City Royals and play at state-of-the-art Arvest Ballpark, located in Springdale.  Visit our website, nwanaturals.com, for information on season tickets and ticket plans.

SPRINGDALE, AR – Naturals’ right-hander Jake Odorizzi has been selected as the Texas League Pitcher of the Week for the period of April 30^th-May 6^th, Texas League President Tom Kayser announced Monday.

The Highland, Illinois resident has both set and tied the Naturals franchise record for strikeouts in a game with 11 on two different occasions.  The first 11 strikeout performance came on April 23 against Springfield.  In his most recent start against the North Division leading Tulsa Drillers on May 5, he again fanned 11.  Odorizzi threw seven and a third innings allowing just two hits and one earned run.

Odorizzi is 3-2 on the season and is leading the starting staff in ERA (3.48), innings pitched (31.0), and strikeouts (40).  His 40 strikeouts are ranked third in the Texas League.

Cody Decker of the San Antonio Missions was named as the Player of the Week for the Texas League.

The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are the Double-A Texas League affiliate of the Kansas City Royals and play at state-of-the-art Arvest Ballpark, located in Springdale.  Visit our website, nwanaturals.com, for information on season tickets and ticket plans.

Naturals’ outfielder Wil Myers has been selected as the Texas League Player of the Week for the period of April 23^rd-29^th, Texas League President Tom Kayser announced Monday.

The 21-year old Thomasville, NC resident hit safely in all six games he played in the past week, and hit .556 (10-for-18) with two home runs, six RBI’s, three walks, and two stolen bases.  A Texas League All-Star last season, Myers is batting .354 with six home runs and 14 RBI’s in his second season with Northwest Arkansas.

The Kansas City Royals’ third-best prospect overall according to Baseball America, Myers is taking home a player of the week award in the Texas League for the first time.

Tulsa Drillers starting pitcher Dan Houston was named as the league’s pitcher of the week.

The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are the Double-A Texas League affiliate of the Kansas City Royals and play at state-of-the-art Arvest Ballpark, located in Springdale.  Visit our website, nwanaturals.com, for information on season tickets and ticket plans.

Naturals’ INF Bianchi claimed by Cubs

KANSAS CITY, MO – The Kansas City Royals announced Friday that Naturals infielder Jeff Bianchi has been claimed off waivers by the Chicago Cubs.

A second-round pick by the Royals in 2005, the 25-year old Bianchi spent the entire 2011 season with the Naturals, where he batted .259 with two home runs and 48 RBI in 119 games. The Lancaster, PA resident also spent the second half of the 2009 season with the Naturals and batted .315 with five homers and 42 RBI in 68 games but missed the 2010 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow during Spring Training.

Bianchi, who will occupy a spot on the Cubs’ 40-man Major League roster, was designated for assignment by the Royals on November 30^th to clear a space for new reliever Jonathan Broxton. In 2012, Bianchi is likely to draw an assignment to the Cubs’ Triple-A affiliate, the Iowa Cubs, or their Double-A Tennessee affiliate in the Southern League.

He departs the Naturals organization ranking sixth all-time on the franchise list of games played (187), sixth in at-bats (714), sixth in runs scored (105), tied for fifth in hits (200), third in doubles (40), and seventh in RBI (90). In 490 career minor league games over six seasons, Bianchi has a .281 average with 31 homers and 251 runs batted in.

The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are the Double-A Texas League affiliate of the Kansas City Royals and play at state-of-the-art Arvest Ballpark, located in Springdale. Visit our website, nwanaturals.com, for information on season tickets and ticket plans.

Royals re-sign Lisson, add RHP Castro
Lisson is Naturals’ franchise runs, homers, RBI leader

SPRINGDALE, AR – Baseball America reports that the Kansas City Royals have re-signed Naturals’ infielder Mario Lisson and also added reliever Yeliar Castro on minor league contracts for the 2012 season.

The 27-year old Lisson spent all of 2011 with the Naturals after being sidelined for the 2010 season with injury, appearing in 89 games and batting a career-best .293 with 15 homers, also a career-best, and 45 RBI’s.

A Natural for all of 2008 and part of 2009 as well, the Caracas, Venezuela resident has hit more regular season home runs (31) than any other player that has suited up for Northwest Arkansas. Lisson also sits atop the Naturals’ franchise leaders in games played (255), doubles (48), RBI’s (127), and runs scored (135). Originally signed by the Royals as a non-drafted free agent in April 2002, Lisson owns a career .258 batting average with 78 homers, 389 RBI’s, and 159 stolen bases in 761 games over eight seasons.

Castro is a 23-year old right-hander from Panama City, Panama who has spent the first seven seasons of his professional career in the Atlanta Braves’ organization. In 2011, Castro missed some time with injury and posted a 2-0 record and a 4.15 ERA with 44 strikeouts in 39 innings over 28 appearances (one start) split between Double-A Mississippi, Advanced Class-A Lynchburg, and the Braves’ Gulf Coast League rookie club in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

Signed by the Braves as a non-drafted free agent out of Panama in July 2004, Castro has made a total of 29 Double-A appearances for Mississippi over the past season and has yet to appear at the Triple-A level. Primarily a reliever, Castro owns a career 21-20 record with a 4.71 ERA in 125 appearances, including 25 starts.

The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are the Double-A Texas League affiliate of the Kansas City Royals and play at state-of-the-art Arvest Ballpark, located in Springdale. Visit our website, nwanaturals.com, for information on season tickets and ticket plans.

Royals add ex-Cardinal Eric Duncan
Former first-round pick spent 2011 with Springfield

SPRINGDALE, AR – Baseball Prospectus correspondent Kevin Goldstein reported Wednesday that the Kansas City Royals have signed veteran Eric Duncan to a minor league contract for the 2012 season.

Duncan, a 26-year old resident of Florham Park, NJ, spent 2011 with the Springfield Cardinals after being released by the Colorado Rockies organization following spring training. He joined Springfield in mid-April to serve in a utility role but ended up playing in 103 games for the Cardinals, batting .274 with 22 homers and 62 RBI’s, ranking second on Springfield in homers and third in RBI’s last season. Defensively, Duncan provided a ton of versatility for Springfield skipper Pop Warner, appearing defensively at first base, second base, third base, and left field.

Originally the New York Yankees’ first round selection (27^th overall) in the 2003 draft, Duncan was a highly touted third-base prospect in the Yankees’ organization and prior to the 2005 season ranked as the 36^th-best prospect in all of baseball. However, he struggled to a .226 average in portions of four Triple-A seasons and was released by the Yankees following the 2009 season.

He spent the 2010 season playing for the Mississippi Braves, Atlanta’s Double-A affiliate. Duncan will report to spring training and compete for a job with Triple-A Omaha, but could possibly see time in Northwest Arkansas in 2012.

In nine minor league seasons Duncan owns a .248 batting average with 105 homers and 491 RBI’s in 954 games.

The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are the Double-A Texas League affiliate of the Kansas City Royals and play at state-of-the-art Arvest Ballpark, located in Springdale. Visit our website, nwanaturals.com, for information on season tickets and ticket plans.

Royals resign Naturals INF Romak

SPRINGDALE, AR – Baseball America has reported that the Kansas City Royals have re-signed Naturals’ infielder Jamie Romak to a minor league contract for the 2012 season. Romak became a minor league free-agent following the season.

Romak, a 26-year old London, Ontario resident, spent the entire 2011 season with the Naturals and batted .251 with 23 home runs and 71 RBI’s in 123 games, splitting time at the first base and designated hitter spots. His 23 home runs ranked as the third-highest single-season home run total in franchise history, and his 29 home runs over two seasons ranks him tied for second with former Natural Clint Robinson for the Naturals’ all-time franchise mark.

Following the season Romak, along with his Naturals’ teammate Tim Smith, was a part of the Team Canada squad that upset Team USA and took home a gold medal in the 2011 Pan American Games.

Originally a fourth-round selection of the Atlanta Braves in the 2003 draft, Romak joined the Royals organization prior to the 2010 season when he became a free agent for the first time. He had spent the 2007-2009 seasons in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization after he was dealt by the Braves in a trade that also sent major league first baseman Adam LaRoche to Pittsburgh. In nine minor league seasons Romak owns a .247 batting average with 117 homers and 434 RBI’s in 780 games.

In other transaction news, the Washington Nationals re-signed former Naturals’ infielder Josh Johnson. A reserve infielder for Northwest Arkansas in 2009, Johnson spent the 2011 season with the Harrisburg Senators, the Nationals’ Double-A affiliate in the Eastern League, for whom he batted .244 with eight homers and 36 RBI’s in 128 games.

The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are the Double-A Texas League affiliate of the Kansas City Royals and play at state-of-the-art Arvest Ballpark, located in Springdale. Visit our website, nwanaturals.com, for information on season tickets and ticket plans.