TL1 Northwest Arkansas Naturals

Opportunity Knocks for Midland, Naturals

Published on August 6, 2008 under Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release


The Naturals arrive back home after a 4-2 road trip that saw them take two of three from Tulsa at Drillers Stadium, a place where they had been swept in June, and take two of four from the Arkansas Travelers at Dickey Stephens Park, doubling their win total at the Travs' park from the first half which saw them go 1-7 against the Travs on the road. In the process, the four-game lead the Naturals had on the Texas League North has dipped to three, as Springfield went 5-2 at home over the same span. The Cards now head into Texas to face the San Antonio Missions, and the Midland RockHounds, the Oakland Athletics Double-A entry, inbound to Springdale. Entering this series Midland is 26-18, and just a game out of the top spot in the Texas League South. Although Midland was weakened by the loss of two of their most talented starters, Brett Anderson and Trevor Cahill, both top prospects of the A's, to Team USA, the RockHounds arrive with a season-high 11 game winning streak they'll put on the line against the Naturals.

The Oakland system underwent a major revamping this offseason as over a half-dozen premium prospects joined the organization in trades that sent Dan Haren to the Diamondbacks and Nick Siwsher to the White Sox. Even more prospects have arrived in trades that have unloaded Rich Harden (to the Chicago Cubs) and Joe Blanton (to the Philadelphia Phillies) as the Athletics load up their minor league system with new talent. In fact, the Midland roster includes two prospects Oakland acquired in the Blanton trade-INF Adrian Cardenas, who just joined the RockHounds from Advanced-A Stockton, and LHP Josh Outman, who will start against the Naturals Thursday-who were ranked as the second and fourth-best prospects in the Phillies organization according to Baseball America. Furthermore, the A's picked up two more prospects in the Harden trade that were ranked in the Cubs' top ten prospects.

Even after losing Cahill and Anderson, Midland's roster still possesses seven of the A's pre-season top 30 prospects according to Baseball America, as well as some hot-hitting bats that surely will give the Naturals great competition the next couple days.

The top-ranked A's prospect on the Midland roster is James Simmons, the A's first-round selection last year out of UC Riverside, who is ranked as the seventh-best prospect. The roster also includes OF Aaron Cunningham (#9), RHP Andrew Bailey (#11), OF Javi Herrera (#15), 1B Sean Doolittle (#16), INF Justin Sellers (#20), and RHP Andrew Carignan (#28). The RockHounds do not have a player on their roster who played in the SEC, but they do have two players (RHP Jason Windsor and LHP Chris Michalak) with Major League experience.

Tonight's pitching matchup pits Naturals' right-hander Julio Pimentel (4-10) against RHP Ryan Webb (7-6) Tomorrow, RHP Blake Johnson will face LHP Josh Outman. Friday, Naturals' RHP Dan Cortes will face Midland righty Jason Windsor.

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 also 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.

Check out the Northwest Arkansas Naturals Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Texas League Stories from August 6, 2008


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.

OurSports Central