American League Division Series Begins Tonight
October 8, 2015 - Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release
SPRINGDALE, Ark. - The Kansas City Royals, the Major League affiliate of the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, begin their quest for the city's first World Series title since 1985 tonight with Game 1 of the American League Division Series against the Houston Astros.
Plenty of former Naturals fueled the Royals to the franchise's most wins (95) since Kansas City won 97 games in 1980, a year the Royals appeared in the World Series and fell the Phillies four games to two. The Royals announced the 25-man playoff roster earlier today with 10 former Naturals that cultivated in the farm system along with three players who donned a Naturals uniform on rehab assignments, highlight the postseason roll.
Tonight's Game 1 starter, right-hander Yordano Ventura, pitched in Northwest Arkansas in 2012 and 2013 making a total of 17 starts in a Naturals jersey. The 24-year old flame-thrower solidified his spot as the ace of the staff with a 9-1 record in his final 14 regular-season starts for the Royals posting a 3.10 ERA. Ventura racked up 91 strikeouts in his final 87-innings of work with the senior circuit batting .229 off the hurler.
A trio of former Naturals - Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas and Salvador Perez - have unified as the core of the club over the past two seasons. Hosmer, the Gold Glove first baseman, ranked 10th in the big leagues in batting average and 4th amongst MLB first baseman in average while recording career-highs in RBI (93), walks (61), on-base percentage (.363) and triples (5).
2015 Naturals Hall of Fame inductee, Moustakas, tied teammate Kendrys Morales for tops on the club in home runs (22) while setting new career-highs in homers, RBI (82), runs scored (73) and batting average (.284). Moustakas won the 2010 Texas League Player of the Year while with Northwest Arkansas registering 21 home runs and 76 RBI with a .347 average having played in a mere 66 games.
As the leader on the field and in the clubhouse, Perez committed just four errors behind the dish in 1,068 chances good for a .996 fielding percentage while throwing out 30.5-percent of would-be base stealers. The 2011 Texas League Mid-Season All-star set a new career-high in home runs this season with 21 dingers.
A man whom Naturals' fans recognize as a hero in the 2014 postseason roamed left-field and swiped 39 bags in the Texas League this past season, Terrance Gore, represents the lone Northwest Arkansas alum from the 2015 club. The Panama City, Fla. resident recorded a stolen-base percentage of 95.2-percent - good for tops in the Double-A circuit - while batting .284 in 85 games for the Naturals with a .367 on-base average.
The American League Central Champion Royals won the division by 12.0 games over the Minnesota Twins this season and tied for second in the Majors in average (.269), ranked third in doubles (300) and second in stolen bases (104). Kansas City finished 2-4 against Houston during the regular season winning two of three games against the Astros at Kauffman Stadium in late-July.
Houston's pitching staff posted a league-best 3.57 ERA with the Royals accruing the third-best earned run average at 3.73. The Royals will face right-hander Collin McHugh who won 19 games for the Astros with a 3.89 ERA in 32 starts. Kansas City did not face McHugh during the regular year.
Below is a list of the former Naturals that are on the current 25-man playoff roster:
Pitchers:
LHP Danny Duffy - 2010 and rehabbed in 2013
RHP Kelvin Herrera - 2011 and rehabbed in 2013
RHP Kris Medlen - rehab during 2015 season with Northwest Arkansas
RHP Yordano Ventura - 2012-2013
Catchers:
C Salvador Perez - 2011
Infielders:
2B/SS/3B Christian Colon - 2011-12, 2014
1B Eric Hosmer - 2010
3B Mike Moustakas - 2010
Outfielders:
OF Jarrod Dyson - 2009-2010
OF Lorenzo Cain - rehab during the 2012 season with Northwest Arkansas
LF Alex Gordon - rehab during 2009 season with Northwest Arkansas
OF Terrance Gore - 2015
OF Paulo Orlando - 2010-2012
Probables for American League Division Series vs. the Houston Astros:
Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015 Game 1: RHP Yordano Ventura (13-8, 4.08) vs. RHP Collin McHugh (19-7, 3.89)
Game at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. - First pitch, 6:30 p.m. CST
Friday, Oct. 9, 2015 Game 2: RHP Johnny Cueto (11-13, 3.44) vs. RHP Scott Kazmir (7-11, 3.10)
Game at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. - First pitch, 2:30 p.m. CST
Sunday, Oct. 11, 2015 Game 3: RHP Edison Volquez (13-9, 3.55) vs. RHP Dallas Keuchel (20-8, 2.48)
Game at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas - First pitch, 3:00 p.m. CST
Monday, Oct. 12, 2015 Game 4 (if necessary): TBA vs. TBA
Game at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas - First pitch, TBA
Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2015 Game 5 (if necessary): TBA vs. TBA
Game at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. - First pitch, TBA
Use the hashtag #CrowntoCrown to follow the former Naturals during Kansas City's run to the World Series on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook throughout the postseason.
Northwest Arkansas Naturals will return to action on Thursday, April 7, 2016 when they host the Frisco RoughRiders, the Double-A Affiliate of the Texas Rangers, to begin Season Nine of Naturals Baseball at Arvest Ballpark.
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 the Season Nine of Naturals Baseball, tickets, groups, promotions, roster, and off-season information.
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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Texas League Stories from October 8, 2015
- American League Division Series Begins Tonight - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
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