
Five Naturals Selected to Texas League All-Star Game
June 14, 2016 - Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release
SPRINGDALE, Ark - The Texas League announced the rosters for the 80th annual Texas League All-Star game and five (5) members of the Northwest Arkansas Naturals were selected to represent the North Division in the exhibition game that will be played on Tuesday, June 28 in Springfield, Missouri. The Naturals' representatives include RHP Jake Junis, RHP Alec Mills, and RHP Kevin McCarthy from the pitching staff along with position players INF Mauricio Ramos and INF Frank Schwindel. Ramos has been selected to start at third base in the All-Star game.
Tom Kayser, the Texas League President, announced the players elected to the 80th annual Texas League All-Star game that will be played between the North and South Divisions. Players were selected to the teams through polling each team's managers, hitting coaches, pitching coaches, broadcasters, as well as one media representative. A voter was not allowed to choose players from their own club.
RHP Jake Junis (6-3, 2.49 ERA) has led the Naturals' pitching staff all season long and especially since the start of May. The Texas League Pitcher of the Week from May 23 through May 29 leads the circuit in strikeouts with 70, is tied for second in wins, ranks second in WHIP and in strikeouts per nine innings ratio, fourth in batting average allowed, third in fewest baserunners per nine innings, and ranks seventh in ERA. Since the beginning of May, Junis has a sparkling 5-1 record while striking out 49 and only allowing 5 earned runs in 50 innings of work.
RHP Alec Mills (1-2, 2.39 ERA) has been equally as dominant but doesn't have the record to show for it. Mills is coming off of a season-high 11 strikeout performance against the Arkansas Travelers on Monday, June 13. He ranks second in the league with 68 strikeouts and second in the league with fewest walks per nine innings, third in fewest baserunners per nine innings, fifth in strikeouts per nine innings, and sixth in ERA. On Wednesday, May 18 Mills made his Major League debut with the Kansas City Royals and threw 0.2 innings against the Boston Red Sox.
RHP Kevin McCarthy (3-2, 3.12 ERA, 11 Saves) has solidified the Northwest Arkansas bullpen all season long and has been rewarded by being selected to the All-Star game. McCarthy currently ranks second in the Texas League with 11 saves and ranks third in lowest batting average allowed and in fewest baserunners per nine innings pitched among relievers.
INF Mauricio Ramos has been selected to start at third base in the All-Star game. Ramos is currently hitting .288 with three home runs, and 26 RBI. The .288 batting average is good for seventh best in the Texas League while he ranks sixth in hits with 63 in 60 games played.
INF Frank Schwindel rounds out the Naturals 2016 Texas League All-Star game selections. Selected as an Infield Reserve, Schwindel has provided consistent power and production for Northwest Arkansas as he leads the team in home runs with nine and RBI with 31.
Along with the five (5) representatives from the Naturals, the Texas League North Division roster consists of nine (9) members of the Tulsa Drillers, six (6) members of the Springfield Cardinals, and four (4) members of the Arkansas Travelers. The Springfield Cardinals coaching and training staff, led by Manager Dann Bilardello, will head the North Division roster during the game in Springfield on June 28.
The Texas League South Division will be managed by Ryan Christenson of Midland and his staff from the reigning Texas League Champions. The South roster consists of eight (8) Corpus Christi Hooks, seven (7) Frisco RoughRiders, five (5) Midland RockHounds, and four (4) San Antonio Missions and is highlighted by top prospects INF Alex Bergman of Corpus and INF Franklin Barreto of Midland.
The complete list of 2016 Texas League All-Stars are listed below.
2016 North Division All-Star Team
Starters                                                  Â
POS PLAYER TEAM
C Carson Kelly SPR
1B Eric Aguilera ARK
2B Willie Calhoun TUL
SS Drew Maggi TUL
3B Mauricio Ramos NWA
OF Harrison Bader SPR
OF Cal Towey ARK
OF Alex Verdugo TUL
DH Luke Voit SPR
Reserves
POS PLAYER TEAM
C Kyle Famer TUL
INF Bruce Caldwell SPR
INF Paul DeJong SPR
INF Frank Schwindel NWA
OF Jacob Scavuzzo TUL
Pitchers
PLAYER TEAM
Jake Junis NWA
Alec Mills NWA
Kevin McCarthy NWA
Mike Mayers SPR
Tyler DeLoach ARK
Jordan Kipper ARK
Chase DeJong TUL
Scott Barlow TUL
Trevor Oaks TUL
Brock Stewart TUL
2016 South Division All-Star Team
Starters                                                  Â
POS PLAYER TEAM
C Beau Taylor MID
1B Ronald Guzman FRI
2B Franklin Barreto MID
SS Alex Bregman CC
3B Matt Chapman MID
OF Ryan Cordell FRI
OF Derek Fisher CC
OF Teoscar Hernandez CC
DH Nick Torres SA
Reserves
POS PLAYER TEAM
C Isiah Kiner-Falefa FRI
INF J.D. Davis CC
INF Wade Kirkland MID
INF Jose Rondon SA
OF Preston Beck FRI
Pitchers
PITCHER TEAM
Adam Cimber SA
Brian Holmes CC
Jason Jester SA
Brendon McCury CC
Adam Parks FRI
David Paulino CC
Victor Payano FRI
Connor Sadzeck FRI
Corey Walter MID
Keegan Yuhl CC
Texas League Stories from June 14, 2016
- Travs Complete Four-Game Sweep of NWA - Arkansas Travelers
- Cardinals Reclaim 1st Place with Wild 7-6 Comeback Win - Springfield Cardinals
- Drillers Fall from First with Disappointing Loss - Tulsa Drillers
- Naturals Swept in North Little Rock in 6-1 Loss - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Beck, Beck, Beck, Beck... and Gone - Midland RockHounds
- Beck's Walk-Off Blast Pushes Riders Past RockHounds - Frisco RoughRiders
- Four Missions Headed to TL All-Star Game - San Antonio Missions
- Four Travs Named Mid-Season All-Stars - Arkansas Travelers
- Six Cardinals Headline Texas League All-Star Rosters - Springfield Cardinals
- Nine Drillers Named to TL All-Star Squad - Tulsa Drillers
- Seven RoughRiders Named Texas League Mid-Season All-Stars - Frisco RoughRiders
- 'Hounds Send "5 + 5" to Texas League All-Star Game - Midland RockHounds
- Hooks Land Division-Leading 8 All-Stars - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Five Naturals Selected to Texas League All-Star Game - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Homestand Highlights: June 15 - June 22 - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Riders Game Notes - 11:05 a.m. vs. Midland RockHounds - June 14, 2016 - Frisco RoughRiders
- RockHounds Rally Back to Ty(Ler) Frisco - Midland RockHounds
- RockHounds Score Eight Late Runs to Take Game Two - Frisco RoughRiders
- Yuhl, Tanielu Drive Hooks Past Missions - Corpus Christi Hooks
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent Northwest Arkansas Naturals Stories
- Jensen Homers, Has Three Hits in Walk-Off Loss Thursday
- Owen Six Ks, Johnson's Two RBI Lift Nats to 5-2 Win Wednesday
- Panzini Ks Seven in Naturals 6-1 Win Tuesday
- Dickerson Hits Walk-Off Home Run in Naturals 6-5 Win Versus Wind Surge
- Cross Drives in Career-High Five RBI in Naturals' 6-4 Win Over Wind Surge Saturday

