TL1 Northwest Arkansas Naturals

Royals Re-Sign Lisson, Add RHP Castro

Published on November 17, 2011 under Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release


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.

Check out the Northwest Arkansas Naturals Statistics

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Texas League Stories from November 17, 2011


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