First Godin, now Hartsock on the move to AAA
August 24, 2009 - Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release
SPRINGDALE, AR - The Kansas City Royals announced three transactions Saturday and one today that affected the Northwest Arkansas roster. The related details are below.
Right-hander Jason Godin was transferred to Triple-A Omaha on Saturday. Godin joined the Naturals in July and had made six appearances (one start), allowing four earned runs in 11 2/3 innings. The Royals' fifth-round selection in the 2006 draft out of Old Dominion University, the 24-year old Stafford, VA resident had spent the majority of the 2009 season with the Wilmington Blue Rocks, the Royals' Advanced-A Carolina League affiliate.
Right-hander Aaron Hartsock joined Godin in Omaha on Monday. The 25-year old resident of Imperial, CA was 2-1 with a 3.07 ERA and five saves over 23 appearances with the Naturals in 2009. Like Godin, Hartsock also started his 2009 season with Wilmington and will see the Triple-A Pacific Coast League for the first time. He is amongst Kansas City Royals' minor league leaders this season in saves (16 between Advanced Class-A and Double-A) and appearances (38). Hartsock was the Royals' 23rd round selection in 2006 out of Cal Baptist University.
Gilbert De La Vara, who was placed on the seven-day disabled list on August 15th with a right thigh contusion, was activated on Saturday. The 24-year old De La Vara has appeared in 34 games for the Naturals this season, including one start, and has posted a 6-1 record and a 5.48 ERA with two saves in 64 innings pitched. The southpaw is in his second season with the Naturals but spent a portion of the 2007 season at the Double-A level as well. The Tucson, AZ resident was the Royals' 15th round selection in the 2004 draft.
Right-hander Blake Wood was also activated on Saturday and is slated to work out of the bullpen initially. The right-hander has been sidelined since late June with elbow inflammation. The 23-year old resident of Suwanee, GA, owns a 2-6 record and 5.27 ERA on the season in 13 starts. He was having the best month of his season prior to being sidelined, as he posted a 3.46 ERA in four June starts, the best numbers among Naturals' starting pitchers in the month despite finishing June with an 0-3 record. Wood was the Kansas City Royals' third-round selection in the 2006 draft and is the Royals' tenth-best prospect according to Baseball America.
After the moves, the Naturals' roster stands at 23, one below 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. The Naturals have a toll-free ticket hotline (1-877-444-2637) for fans to purchase Naturals tickets. Our website, nwanaturals.com 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 August 24, 2009
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- 'Riders defeat Naturals, complete sweep - Frisco RoughRiders
- First-place Drillers win, head home - Tulsa Drillers
- First Godin, now Hartsock on the move to AAA - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
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