Two New Pitchers Join Naturals for Playoffs
Published on September 7, 2011 under Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR - The Kansas City Royals announced a series of moves affecting the Naturals' roster heading into their post-season opener against the Arkansas Travelers in North Little Rock. The related moves, which set the Naturals' playoff roster, are as follows:
Left-handed starting pitcher Justin Marks has been added to the roster from Advanced Class-A Wilmington. Marks, a 23-year old from Owensboro, KY, had spent all season with the Blue Rocks, posting an 8-8 record and a 3.98 ERA in 28 games, including 22 starts. The 6'3", 203 lb. hurler fanned 140 batters and surrendered 144 hits in 144 2/3 innings pitched and put up his best numbers after the league's All-Star Break, finishing the year 5-3 with a 3.12 ERA in 14 games, 13 of them starts. Further, the southpaw hadn't allowed a run in his final two starts, tossing 13 scoreless innings.
Acquired by the Royals last November as part of the trade that sent OF David DeJesus to the Athletics, Marks was Oakland's third round selection in the 2009 draft out of Louisville. He owns a 14-22 record and 4.60 ERA in 54 career minor league games, including 47 starts.
The Naturals have also added left-hander Ryan Dennick from Wilmington. Dennick is a 24-year old from North Olmstead, OH. Like Marks, he also had been with Wilmington all season, posting a 3-7 record and 4.36 ERA in 35 outings, all in relief. Dennick had a 51/14 K/BB ratio in his 53 2/3 innings pitched and held opposing left-handed batters to a paltry .213 average. The Royals' 22 nd round pick in 2009 out of Tennessee Tech, the 6'0, 198 lb. hurler owns a career 10-14 minor league record with a 3.94 ERA in 87 games, all but one in relief.
To make room on the roster for the two new pitchers, left-handed reliever Kevin Chapman and right-handed starter Elisaul Pimentel were re-assigned to the Wilmington roster.
Chapman, the 23-year old hard throwing lefty out of the University of Florida, posted a 1-2 record with three saves and a 4.99 ERA in 25 outings of relief for the Naturals this season after starting the season with the Blue Rocks. The Margate, FL resident was the fourth round selection of the Royals in the 2010 draft. Later in the month, Chapman will begin an assignment to the Royals' annual Instructional League, to be managed by former Natural and Springdale resident Vance Wilson.
Pimentel is a 23-year old from La Romana in the Dominican Republic and made two starts for the Naturals within the past ten days, posting an 0-1 record with a 6.35 ERA after going 6-7 with a 3.59 ERA in 26 games, including 22 starts for Wilmington. Originally signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers in December of 2006, Pimentel was acquired by the Kansas City Royals on July 28 th, 2010 in the trade that sent former Royals' outfielder Scott Podsednik to Los Angeles. Prior to the season, Baseball America ranked Pimentel as the Royals' 29th best prospect.
After the roster moves, the Naturals' roster stands at the Texas League limit of 24 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.
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