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TL1 Northwest Arkansas Naturals

Royals Sign Pair to Minor League Contracts

November 25, 2008 - Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release


Baseball America reported Monday that the Kansas City Royals have signed a pair of 24-year olds, SS Luis Hernandez and LHP Carlos Sencion to minor league contracts for the 2009 season.

Sencion, a Dominican who was originally signed as a non-drafted free-agent by the Atlanta Braves, could be a candidate to begin the 2009 season in Northwest Arkansas. Last season, he split time between Advanced-A Myrtle Beach and Double-A Mississippi, posting a combined record of 6-2 with a 4.28 ERA. The 6-foot-4 lefty has both starting and relief experience; last season he made 12 starts among 28 appearances. Sencion has fanned nearly a batter per inning in his minor league career thus far, and batters hit .255 against him in his 25 games with the Mississippi Braves. He's currently playing with La Romana in the Dominican Winter League, and has held hitters scoreless through five appearances.

Hernandez, a switch-hitting, Quilbor, Venezuela resident, seems likely to man the shortstop position for Triple-A Omaha after spending the 2008 campaign split between the Baltimore Orioles and the Norfolk Tides, their Triple-A International League affiliate. The slick-fielding shortstop hit .241 in 36 games with the Orioles and .185 with 11 RBI in 57 games with the Tides. Hernandez, a career .245 minor league hitter, also spent a portion of the 2007 season in the major leagues. Like Sencion, Hernandez spent his first six professional seasons in the Braves' system, reaching Triple-A for the first time in 2006.

Baseball America had also previously reported that the Royals re-signed three members of the 2008 Naturals, C Cody Clark, DH/OF Cory Aldridge, and 3B Juan Richardson, who were minor league free agents.

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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