TL1 Northwest Arkansas Naturals

Northwest Arkansas Naturals Lead North Division to Texas League All-Star Game

Published on June 15, 2015 under Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release


Springdale, Ark. - Led by reigning Texas League Player of the Month in May, first baseman Balbino Fuenmayor, along with second baseman Angel Franco, designated hitter Mike Bianucci and outfielder Jorge Bonifacio, four Northwest Arkansas Naturals have been selected to start in the 79th annual Texas League All-Star Game from Corpus Christi, TX., at Whataburger Field on Tuesday, June 30, 2015. In addition, infielders Raul Mondesi and Alex Liddi, outfielder Terrance Gore, and pitchers J.C. Sulbaran will join their fellow teammates in receiving this honor.

Texas League President Tom Kayser announced the Players elected to the June 30th exhibition game between the North and South divisions that recognize the top stars in the Texas League.

Of the Naturals' nine representatives, two rank in the Kansas City Royals' top 10 prospect list according to MLB.com, Bonifacio at nine and Mondesi ranks as the top prospect within the organization. This marks Bonifacio's second straight Texas League All-Star Game appearance, while Mondesi will be making his first trip. Fuenmayor, Liddi, Gore and Sulbaran will each be making their first appearance as well.

The 79th Annual Texas League All-Star Game in Corpus Christi will be Franco's second appearance, his previous coming at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale during the 2013 season. 2015 marks Bianucci's second Texas League All-Star Game appearance, previously receiving the honor as a member of the Frisco RoughRiders in 2011.

The designated hitter, Bianucci's, as well as Bonifacio and Fuenmayor rank first, second and third respectively in the North Division in home runs with 11, 10 and 10, while Fuenmayor also leads the North with a .345 batting average, .558 slugging percentage and 37 RBI. Gore, voted in as a reserve outfielder for the North Division, leads the Texas League with 24 stolen bases, while only having been caught twice.

The two leaders in their respective divisions, the Northwest Arkansas Naturals and Corpus Christi Hooks, each led in representation with eight players each on the initial roster (prior to replacements). With the addition of Colin Walsh, Ryon Healy and Chad Pinder, Midland also has eight representatives selected.

In total, 8 players chosen for the North-South match-up rank among the top 100 prospects in Major League Baseball according to MLB.com. Of the players selected, Frisco's Joey Gallo, and Corpus Christi's, Vincent Velasquez and Lance McCullers, have already been promoted to their parent Major League team this season. Gallo ranks eighth among top prospects in Major League Baseball, according to MLB.com, the highest among 2015 Texas League All-Stars, while Mondesi ranks highest among current active players in the Texas League, at 35th among MLB prospects.

The North Division will be managed by Tulsa Drillers' Razor Shines and his staff including pitching coach Matt Herges, hitting coach Shawn Wooten, coach Leo Garcia, trainer Aaron Schumacher and strength and conditioning coach Paul Sterrett. The hometown club, Corpus Christi, will coach the South Division including Hooks' Manager Rodney Linares, pitching coach Doug Brocail, hitting coach Dan Radison, coach Tom Lawless and athletic trainer Grant Hufford.

Players were selected through polling each team's managers, hitting coaches, pitching coaches, broadcasters and one media representative. A voter was not allowed to choose players from their own club.

The complete list of 2015 Texas League All-Stars are listed below.

2015 North Division All-Star Team

Starters                                                

POS PLAYER TEAM

C Mike Ohlman SPR

1B Balbino Fuenmayor NWA

2B Angel Franco NWA

SS Luis Mateo TUL

3B Brian Hernandez ARK

OF Jorge Bonifacio NWA

OF Jeremy Hazelbaker SPR

OF Charlie Tilson SPR

DH Mike Bianucci NWA

 

Reserves

POS PLAYER TEAM

C Raywilly Gomez ARK

INF Raul Mondesi NWA

INF Alex Liddi NWA

OF Terrance Gore NWA

 

Pitchers

PLAYER TEAM

Chris Anderson TUL

Kyle Barraclough SPR

Joey Donofrio SPR

Trevor Gott # ARK

Jeremy Horst TUL

Jeremy Kehrt TUL

Chris O'Grady ARK

Arturo Reyes SPR

Nate Smith ARK

Albert Suarez ARK

J.C. Sulbaran NWA

Chris Thomas$ SPR

2014 South Division All-Star Team

Starters                                                

POS PLAYER TEAM

C Carson Blair MID

1B Conrad Gregor CC

2B Tony Kemp# CC

SS Trea Turner+ SA

3B Joey Gallo* FRI

OF Travis Jankowski SA

OF Chad Oberacker MID

OF Nick Williams FRI

DH Matt Olson MID

2B Colin Walsh$ MID

3B Ryon Healy$ MID

SS Chad Pinder$ MID

 

Reserves

POS PLAYER TEAM

C Jorge Alfaro+ FRI

INF Drew Robinson FRI

INF Tyler White CC

OF Nomar Mazara FRI

C Roberto Pena$ CC

Pitchers

PLAYER TEAM

Travis Ballew CC

Chris Devenski CC

Ryan Dull MID

Jandel Gustave CC

Justin Hancock SA

Nate Long MID

Lance McCullers* CC

Jesus Pirela FRI

Colin Rea SA

Jake Thompson FRI

Vincent Velasquez* CC

David Martinez$ FRI

Tayron Guerrero$ SA

 

*Currently on parent club's Major League Roster

#Promoted to parent club's Triple-A Roster

+Injured/Traded

$Replacement

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.

Check out the Northwest Arkansas Naturals Statistics

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Texas League Stories from June 15, 2015


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