TL1 Northwest Arkansas Naturals

Three former Naturals headed to the Majors

Published on September 6, 2009 under Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release


KANSAS CITY -- One night Dusty Hughes was riding in a van with his Omaha Royals teammates to their hotel in Round Rock, Texas. The next night he was in the bullpen for the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Hughes, a left-hander, and right-handers Carlos Rosa and Victor Marte were rushed to Kansas City on Saturday to shore up the suddenly-decimated Royals relief corps.

This was a September hurry-up, the Royals' first September callups of the year.

For Hughes, 27, it was the crowning point of a trek that began in 2003 with the Surprise Royals in rookie ball. One of the first things he did was call his wife. He had a little trouble getting the good news out.

"It was first time I've been at a loss for words talking to my wife, but it's very surreal right now," Hughes said.

Hughes, 3-3 with a 3.50 ERA in 34 games for Omaha, made 11 starts and was 3-1 with a 2.48 ERA in his past six outings during August. Since missing the 2006 season because of Tommy John right elbow reconstruction surgery, he's 17-9 with a 3.53 ERA in three seasons at the Double-A and Triple-A levels.

Essentially, Hughes takes the spot of the injured lefty John Bale in the bullpen and there's at least one similarity between the two.

"Kind of like Bale, I drop down to lefties once in a while," Hughes said.

Manager Trey Hillman said Hughes primarily would pitch in long relief, with Rosa and Marte in shorter roles.

Rosa, 24, is in his eighth season in the Royals' organization. Once a top prospect as a starter, Rosa was shifted to a relief role this year after some arm problems. He missed the 2005 season with Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery on his left arm and he ended last season on the disabled list with an elbow strain.

"The team thinks it's better for my arm. I feel much better actually since I don't throw so many pitches like I did when I was a starter," Rosa said.

In 43 relief outings for Omaha, he has a 2-8 record with a 4.56 ERA and seven saves. He lost his first six decisions with a 5.16 ERA in the first half of the season and cut that to 3.51 after the All-Star break.

"I had a little bit of a problem with my command my first two months," Rosa said. "But I came back in the second half and was throwing the ball well. For me, the most important thing is I was not hurt and stayed healthy all year."

Marte, 28, returned to the U.S. after three years with the Hiroshima Carp in Japan and was a non-roster pitcher with the Royals in Spring Training. With Omaha, he is 1-4 with a 2.13 ERA with four saves in 26 games. He began the season with the Naturals and was 2-1 with a 2.45 ERA and four saves in 13 games.

This is his first Major League experience.

"It was a very big surprise, and I talked to my family and everybody," Marte said. "For my first year back in the U.S.A., to play in the big leagues is a big thrill."

Marte has given up just one unearned run in his past 14 outings (21 2/3 innings) for Omaha.

Of the three, only Rosa has been in the Majors before. He pitched in two games for the Royals in 2008, a season Rosa began in the Naturals' rotation.

"They've all got to learn to command the ball a little bit better. Dusty ran behind in some counts in his starts, but his most recent start was very positive," Hillman said. "But we need arms. These guys have arms and they have stuff, and they're healthy and that's where we are."

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