Rosters Announced for Texas League All Star Game

SPRINGDALE, ARK - Five Naturals have been selected to represent the host team at the 77^th Annual Texas League All Star Game presented by Castrol on June 25^th at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale, AR.

 

Texas League President Tom Kayser announced the 48 Players elected to the June 25^th exhibition game between the North and South divisions that recognize the tops stars in the league.

 

Orlando Calixte leads the list of Naturals selected. The Shortstop is the Royals #5 Prospect according to MLB.com. Fueled by a May to remember, he will represent the Naturals as a starter for the North Division. Other Naturals selected include Angel Franco* and Mitch Canaham ,who will back-up the Infield positions and Catching position respectively. Matt Fields will also appear in the All-Star game, replacing Tulsa's Kent Matthes who was promoted to Triple-A RHP Yordano Ventura* was also voted to the team. After eleven starts for Northwest Arkansas to begin the season, the Royals promoted the right-hander to AAA-Omaha last week. Former Texas League Manager of the Year Brian Poldberg will lead his usual field staff of pitching coach Jim Brower, hitting coach Nelson Liriano, trainer Masa Koyanagi, and conditioning coach Nate Dine as the coaching representatives of the North Divison's squad.

 

Corpus Christi's phenom George Springer highlights the list of South Division All-Stars. The slugger is the Houston Astros' #3 prospect according to MLB.com and currently leads the league in homeruns and RBI. The League's winningest pitcher David Martinez (9-0), ERA leader Jake Buchanan (0.80 ERA), and Catcher Rene Garcia also join Springer as representatives from Corpus. RHP Mike Foltynewicz, the #5 Houston prospect according to Baseball America, and OF Domingo Santana (Baseball America's #11 Astros Prospect) round out the selections from the first-place Hooks.

 

The eight Arkansas Travelers elected as All-Stars represent the most by any team. The Frisco Rough Riders are represented by seven players which count as the most selections on the South Division side. Frisco Manager Steve Buechele and his staff of pitching coach Jeff Andrews, hitting coach Jason Hart, athletic trainer Carlos Olivas, and strength and conditioning coach Eric McMahon will lead the South Division All-Stars.

 

In total fifteen players who sit in their respective organization's Top 30 Prospects lists, according to Baseball America, were chosen for the North-South Showdown. Players were selected through polling each division's managers and broadcasters. A voter was not allowed to choose players from their own club.

 

All-Star Festivities in Northwest Arkansas include a Gala at Razorback Stadium on Monday June 24^th with proceeeds going to the Arkansas Children's Hospital, the Tyson Foods Home Run Derby at 6pm on Tuesday June 25^th, and a Post-Game All-Star Fireworks Spectacular.

 

Some tickets are still available for these events by visiting nwanaturals.com/tickets, visiting the Arvest Ballpark Ticket Window or Guest Services during a Naturals Game, or by calling the Naturals Front Office at 479-927-4900.

 

 

77th Annual Texas League All-Star Rosters
North Division All-Star Team				South Division All-Star Team
Starting Position Players
PLAYER	POS	TEAM		PLAYER	POS	TEAM
Jett Bandy	C	Arkansas		Rene Garcia	C	Corpus Christi
C.J. Cron	1B	Arkansas		Anthony Aliotti	1B	Midland
Angelys Nina	2B	Tulsa		Odubel Herrera	2B	Frisco
Ruben Gotay	3B	Springfield		Jake Blackwood	3B	San Antonio
Orlando Calixte	SS	NW Arkansas		Dusty Coleman	SS	Midland
Kiel Roling	OF	Tulsa		Teodoro Martinez	OF	Frisco
Chris Swauger	OF	Springfield		Rico Noel	OF	San Antonio
Roman Hernandez	OF	Naturals		George Springer	OF	Corpus Christi
Matt Fields	DH	NW Arkansas		Brett Nicholas	DH	Frisco
Reserve Position Players
PLAYER	POS	TEAM		PLAYER	POS	TEAM
Mitch Canham	C	NW Arkansas		Tomas Telis	C	Frisco
Rey Navarro	INF	NW Arkansas		Guilder Rodriguez	INF	Frisco
Taylor Lindsey	INF	Arkansas		Jeudy Valdez	INF	San Antonio
Randal Grichuk	OF	Arkansas		Jake Goebbert	OF	Midland
				D'Arby Myers	OF	Midland
Pitchers
PLAYER	TEAM		PLAYER	TEAM
Christian Bergman	Tulsa		Matt Andriese	San Antonio
Michael Cisco	Arkansas		Jake Buchanan	Corpus Christi
Tim Cooney	Springfield		Michael Foltynewicz	Corpus Christi
Heath Wyatt	Springfield		David Martinez	San Antonio
Brandon Hynick	Arkansas		Carlos Pimentel	Frisco
Kevin Johnson	Arkansas		Jeremy McBryde	San Antonio
Tyler Matzek	Tulsa		Neil Ramirez	Frisco
Mike Piazza	Arkansas		Chris Rearick	San Antonio
Kevin Thomas	Springfield		Murphy Smith	Midland
Santiago Garrido	NW Arkansas		Matt Stites	San Antonio
Coaches
NAME	POS	TEAM		NAME	POS	TEAM
Brian Poldberg	Manager	NW Arkansas		Steve Bueschele	Manager	Frisco
Nelson Liriano	Hitting Coach	NW Arkansas		Jason Hart	Hitting Coach	Frisco
Jim Brower	Pitching Coach	NW Arkansas		Jeff Andrew	Pitching Coach	Frisco
Masa Koyanagi	Trainer	NW Arkansas		Carlos Olivas	Trainer	Frisco
Nate Dine	Strength & Conditioning Coach	NW Arkansas		Eric McMahon	Strength & Conditioning Coach	Frisco

***All Star Roster (as of 6/23/13)

1. RHP Santiago Garrido of NWA Naturals replaces RHP Yordano Ventura - 6/11/13
2. LHP Tim Cooney of SPR Cardinals replaces RHP Keith Butler - 6/12/13
3. OF Chris Swauger of SPR Cardinals replaces OF Thomas Pham - 6/12/13
4. OF Teodoro Martinez of FRI RoughRiders replaces SA Missions OF Reymond Fuentes - 6/14/13
5. RHP Jeremy McBryde of SA Missions replaces RHP Kevin Quackenbush - 6/17/13
6. LHP Chris Rearick of SA Missions replaces FRI RoughRiders RHP Ben Rowen - 6/20/13
7. INF Rey Navarro of NWA Naturals replaces INF Angel Franco - 6/20/13
8. INF/DH Matt Fields of NWA Naturals replaces TUL Drillers OF Kent Matthes - 6/22/13
9. OF D'Arby Myers of MID RockHounds replaces CC Hooks OF Domingo Santana - 6/22/13
10. RHP Michael Cisco of Arkansas replaces RHP Lay Batista - 6/22/13
11. RHP Heath Wyatt of SPR Cardinals replaces RHP Deryk Hooker - 6/23/13
12. OF Roman Hernandez of NWA Naturals replaces TUL Drillers OF Kyle Parker - 6/23/13
13. OF Mike O'Neill of SPR Cardinals is injured and will not be replaced in the game - 6/23/13

The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are the Double-A Texas League Affiliate of the Kansas City Royals and proud host of the 77th Annual Texas League All Star Game. The Naturals play at state-of-the-art Arvest Ballpark in Springdale, AR. For more information including statistics, ticket options, and more, please visit NWANaturals.com, and follow us on Twitter @NWANaturals and Facebook.com/Naturals.

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