Rosters Announced for Texas League All Star Game
SPRINGDALE, ARK - Five Naturals have been selected to represent the host team at the 77th Annual Texas League All Star Game presented by Castrol on June 25th at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale, AR.
Texas League President Tom Kayser announced the 48 Players elected to the June 25th 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 24th with proceeeds going to the Arkansas Children's Hospital, the Tyson Foods Home Run Derby at 6pm on Tuesday June 25th, 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
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North Division All-Star Team
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South Division All-Star Team
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Starting Position Players
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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
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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
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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
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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)
- RHP Santiago Garrido of NWA Naturals replaces RHP Yordano Ventura - 6/11/13
- LHP Tim Cooney of SPR Cardinals replaces RHP Keith Butler - 6/12/13
- OF Chris Swauger of SPR Cardinals replaces OF Thomas Pham - 6/12/13
- OF Teodoro Martinez of FRI RoughRiders replaces SA Missions OF Reymond Fuentes - 6/14/13
- RHP Jeremy McBryde of SA Missions replaces RHP Kevin Quackenbush - 6/17/13
- LHP Chris Rearick of SA Missions replaces FRI RoughRiders RHP Ben Rowen - 6/20/13
- INF Rey Navarro of NWA Naturals replaces INF Angel Franco - 6/20/13
- INF/DH Matt Fields of NWA Naturals replaces TUL Drillers OF Kent Matthes - 6/22/13
- OF D'Arby Myers of MID RockHounds replaces CC Hooks OF Domingo Santana - 6/22/13
- RHP Michael Cisco of Arkansas replaces RHP Lay Batista - 6/22/13
- RHP Heath Wyatt of SPR Cardinals replaces RHP Deryk Hooker - 6/23/13
- OF Roman Hernandez of NWA Naturals replaces TUL Drillers OF Kyle Parker - 6/23/13
- 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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