Ka'aihue Receives Topps Double-A Honor
November 19, 2008 - Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release
Kila Ka'aihue was named today to the Topps' Double-A All-Star Team. The 24-year old Honolulu, Hawaii resident, who had a breakout season in 2008 with both the Naturals and Triple-A Omaha, was named as the first baseman on the Topps' Double-A All-Star club.
Ka'aihue hit .314 with 26 home runs and 79 RBI in 91 games for the Naturals, earning a promotion to Omaha on July 30th. The left-handed hitter batted .316 with eleven homers and 21 RBI in 33 Triple-A contests. Ka'aihue ended his seventh season in professional baseball with a September call-up by Kansas City. In his first taste of the big leagues, he played in 12 games and hit .286 (6-for-21) with a home run and one RBI.
His combined minor league numbers last season: a .314 average, 37 homers and 100 RBI, with the 37 round-trippers tied for fourth-most in Minor League Baseball. He led the minors with 104 walks - compared to just 67 strikeouts - and his .456 on-base percentage was tied for first, while his .628 slugging percentage ranked second among full-season minor leaguers.
Ka'aihue was a 15th round selection in the 2002 major league draft. Earlier this offseason, he was named as the Texas League Player of the Year and was selected to both the mid-season and post-season Texas League All-Star teams.
The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are the Double-A Texas League affiliate of the Kansas City Royals and will open the home portion of their 2009 season on Thursday, April 16th against the San Antonio Missions. For season ticket packages and group information for the 2009 season, please call (479) 927-4900 or visit nwanaturals.com.
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- Ka'aihue Receives Topps Double-A Honor - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
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