Series Preview: Tulsa Makes First Visit To Arvest Ballpark
Published on May 3, 2008 under Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release
Drawstring backpack giveaway night and the first opportunity for Man's Best Friend to visit the park (Sunday) highlights this four-game set with the Tulsa Drillers. Both teams will be looking to get closer to the .500 mark as they try to attain headway on the first-place Springfield Cardinals in the Texas League's North Division.
In winning six of their last eight games, the Naturals' bats have awoken slightly and the pitching has remained solid, and Manager Brian Poldberg surely hopes that the improved bats and solid pitching continue now that the Naturals are back in familiar surroundings and in the friendly confines of Arvest Ballpark.
Those that make it to Arvest Ballpark this weekend will see the Naturals meet the Drillers, the Double-A affiliate of the National League Champion Colorado Rockies for the first time. Tulsa has been an important pipeline within the Rockies' system in recent seasons, indeed, more than half of the players that helped the Colorado Rockies make an appearance in last season's Fall Classic against the Boston Red Sox honed their skills down on the farm in Drillers uniforms. Rockies top prospect Franklin Morales, a young Venezuelan lefty, even rose from Tulsa to Colorado late in the season and wound up starting in the club's post-season rotation.
This season's Driller's squad does not feature Morales, however, but does have several of the Rockies' Top 30 prospects according to Baseball America. OF Dexter Fowler (#3) is noted as the best athlete in the Rockies' system. SS Chris Nelson (#7), 2B Eric Young Jr. (#22), and INF Corey Wimberly (#24) all have plus speed, and Nelson is a budding five-tool talent. Young, who is currently shelved with injury, is the son of Eric Young, the former Rockies second baseman who took the first at-bat in Rockies' history. For his part, Wimberly is said to be the fastest baserunner in the Rockies' system.
Three pitchers are also top prospects: RHP Casey Weathers (#6), the Drillers' closer and 2007 first-round draft pick who Razorback fans might remember from his days with Vanderbilt, RHP Brandon Hynick (#8), a change-up and control artist who posted the second-best ERA in the 100-plus seasons of the Advanced-A California League last season, and Pedro Strop (#9), who began the season as Tulsa's closer but currently is on the DL.
One other Drillers hurler, right-hander Alan Johnson, who will start on Monday night, is an SEC alum, logging his college years at Mississippi State.
Tulsa is currently tied (with the Arkansas Travelers) for third place within the North Division, with an 11-17 record. They rank sixth in the loop in batting average (.256) and last in pitching (5.03 ERA).
Tonight's pitching matchup pits Naturals' lefty Dusty Hughes (1-2, 3.00) against another southpaw, Xavier Cedeno (3-2, 4.73). Tomorrow, RHP Blake Johnson will face RHP Tomas Santiago. Monday, Naturals' ace Carlos Rosa will oppose Johnson, the Mississippi State alum, and Hynick will pitch for Tulsa on Tuesday against Julio Pimentel.
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.. The Naturals have a toll-free ticket hotline (1-877-444-2637) for fans to purchase Naturals tickets. Our website also offers fans the opportunity to purchase tickets online and avoid lines at the ticket windows by printing their tickets at home or at the office.
Texas League Stories from May 3, 2008
- Drillers Drop Third Straight - Tulsa Drillers
- Naturals Hold On To Beat Drillers - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Travs Take Cards 10-4 on Saturday - Springfield Cardinals
- Travs Hit Four Homers In 10-4 Win - Arkansas Travelers
- Ninth Not Nice to Hooks - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Series Preview: Tulsa Makes First Visit To Arvest Ballpark - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
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