TL1 Northwest Arkansas Naturals

Pina, Santiago Return to Naturals

Published on July 27, 2011 under Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release


SPRINGDALE, AR - The Kansas City Royals announced three transactions on Wednesday afternoon affecting the Northwest Arkansas roster. The related details are as follows:

Catcher Manny Pina and right-hander Mario Santiago will join the Naturals from Triple-A Omaha, the Royals' top level affiliate in the Pacific Coast League. They take the roster spots of backstop Salvador Perez and reliever Kelvin Herrera, who were promoted to Omaha earlier in the day.

Pina, the 24-year old from Barquismeto, Venezuela, batted .241 with five homers and 16 RBI's in 56 games with Omaha, spending some time sidelined in June with injury. His bat had heated up of late, however, as he batted .295 with two homers and four RBI's in 13 July games. Last season, Pina spent most of the year with the Naturals and batted .259 with seven homers and 44 RBI's in 74 games, helping the Naturals reach the Texas League Championship Series.

Known for his defense behind the dish, Pina, who was a 2009 Texas League All-Star with the Frisco RoughRiders, ranked as the best catcher at gunning down opposing basestealers in the Texas League last season while with the Naturals. A member of the Royals' 40-man roster, Pina was acquired by the Royals in September 2009 in a trade with the Texas Rangers.

Santiago, the affable 26-year old hurler from Salinas, Puerto Rico, rejoins the Naturals after spending just over two months at Omaha, where he posted a 3-3 record and a 5.70 ERA in 19 appearances, including four starts. He began the season with the Naturals, making eight appearances and one start, during which he posted a 2-0 record and a 1.46 ERA, holding Texas League hitters to a .202 average in 24 2/3 innings pitched. A Texas League All-Star last season with Northwest Arkansas, Santiago was the Royals' 16thround selection in the 2005 draft.

The Royals also announced that reliever Brendan Lafferty will join the Naturals from Advanced Class-A Wilmington. Lafferty is a 24-year old from Riverside, CA and was the Royals' 18th round selection in the 2009 draft out of UCLA. The 6'3", 180 lb. left-hander posted a 2-3 record and 4.57 ERA with one save in 19 appearances out of the Blue Rocks' pen, striking out 33 and walking 15 in 43 1/3 innings. He owns a career minor league record of 11-7 to go along with a 3.40 ERA and seven saves in 68 appearances, including two starts.

Santiago will wear #38, Pina #7, and Lafferty #15 for Northwest Arkansas. After the moves the Naturals' roster returns to the Texas League limit of 24.

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. Visit our website, nwanaturals.com, for information on season tickets and ticket plans.

Check out the Northwest Arkansas Naturals Statistics

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Texas League Stories from July 27, 2011


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