Kansas City Royals Commence 47th Spring Training
February 19, 2015 - Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release
SPRINGDALE, Ark - Today marks the 47th season of Kansas City Royals Spring Training and the 13th season the Royals call Surprise Stadium in Surprise, Ariz. their Spring Training facility. Pitchers and catchers reported officially reported today.
Nine former Northwest Arkansas Naturals were invited as non-roster invitees including five of the nine having played at Arvest Ballpark during the 2014 season. The list includes LHP Scott Alexander (sixth round, 2010), RHP Christian Binford (30th round, 2011), C Parker Morin (14th round, 2012) along with infielders Hunter Dozier (first round - eighth overall, 2013) and Whit Merrifield (ninth round, 2012).
Other former Naturals on the non-roster invitation are LHP Buddy Baumann (seventh round, 2009), LHP Chris Dwyer (fourth round, 2009), outfielder Brett Eibner (second round, 2010) and infielder Matt Fields (signed as a free agent).
Outfielders Jorge Bonifacio and Lane Adams were added to the 40-man roster this off-season along with infielder Orlando Calixte.
Here are some of the former and future Naturals to keep your eye on this spring:
Brandon Finnegan - left-handed pitcher, 2014 first round (17th overall) draft pick who finished the 2014 season in the Kansas City Royals bullpen and pitched in the 2014 World Series. It has been speculated that Finnegan could break spring with the Royals as a reliever - while still fighting for a rotation spot - or could begin the 2015 campaign in either Northwest Arkansas or Triple-A, Omaha.
Miguel Almonte - right-handed pitcher, signed as a non-drafted free agent in Nov. 2010. The 21-year old starter pitched a full season in Hi-A Wilmington and also pitched for Naturals' manager Vance Wilson's Peoria Javalinas Arizona Fall League club.
Hunter Dozier - third baseman, 2013 first round (8th overall) draft pick who played the second half of 2014 with the Naturals. Dozier won the Bowman Hitting Challenge for the 2014 Arizona Fall League while hitting .256 in 24 games for the Javalinas with a home run, six doubles and 11 RBI.
Christian Binford - right-handed pitcher, selected in the 30th round of the 2011 June draft out of high school. The 22-year old hurler pitched at three levels in the Royals organization during 2014 including making eight starts with the Naturals. Binford finished 2014 with Triple-A, Omaha making four starts for the StormChasers in August.
For all the latest Spring Training updates, follow the Northwest Arkansas Naturals on Twitter @nwanaturals all throughout the year by using the hashtag #NaturalPastime for all of our up-to-date information on tickets, groups, promotions, roster, and team information.
Season 8 of Naturals baseball begins on Thursday, April 9, 2015 in Midland, Texas. The Naturals will open at Arvest Ballpark on Thursday, April 16 at 6:05 P.M. against the same Midland RockHounds, the Double-A Affiliate of the Oakland Athletics.
The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are the Double-A Texas League Affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. The Naturals play at state-of-the-art Arvest Ballpark in Springdale, Ark. For more information including statistics, ticket options, and more, please visit NWANaturals.com, and follow us on Twitter @NWANaturals and Facebook.com/Naturals.
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