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MLB

FORMER NATURALS EARN WILSON DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR HONORS

By Naturals PR Department
November 6, 2014

SPRINGDALE, Ark. -- Former Northwest Arkansas Naturals, and current Kansas City Royals outfielders Lorenzo Cain and Alex Gordon have received Defensive Player of the Year honors by Wilson Sporting Goods, which were announced Wednesday night as part of a one-hour special on MLB Network. 

The awards keep rolling in for both dynamic outfielders. Cain, who last played with the Naturals in 2012 by way of a rehab assignment, also earned the American League Championship Series MVP award during the 2014 postseason. He was honored last year with a Defensive Player of the Year award as well. He ranked third in the Major Leagues in zone rating (.949) and was also fourth among American League outfielders in range factor per 9.0 innings (2.80), seventh in putouts (338) and tied for 11th in the league with a career high eight assists. Lorenzo committed just two errors in 348 chances for a .994 fielding percentage. He played a career-best 133 games this season, which included 93 starts in center field. 

Gordon was honored by Wilson with a Defensive Player of the Year award for the first time in his career. Gordon tied for 11th in the American League with eight outfield assists this season, while his 62 assists since the start of 2011 are the most in the Major Leagues in that span. He led all A.L. outfielders in games (156) and innings (1372.2) for the second-straight year and finished sixth in putouts (341) and committed just two errors in 351 chances for a .994 fielding percentage. Gordon received his fourth American League Rawlings Gold Glove Award this past Tuesday night. He last played in Northwest Arkansas in 2009, also by way of a rehab assignment.

Founded in 2012, the Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Award winners are determined using a formula that combines traditional defensive stats with advanced metrics, as well as the data logged by the baseball experts working for the scouting service Inside Edge. Atlanta Braves outfielder Jason Heyward was named overall 2014 Wilson Defensive Player of the Year. 

Stay up to date on all 13 of the former Naturals to win the 2014 American League Pennant by following the Northwest Arkansas Naturals on Twitter @nwanaturals using #TheNatural13.

Season 8 of Naturals baseball will begin with a six-game road trip to Midland and Frisco before returning to Arvest Ballpark for their home opener on Thursday, April 16 against the Midland RockHounds (Double-A Affiliate of the Oakland Athletics). 

The Season 8 promotional schedule, game times and other details on discounted ticket plans as well as group information will be made available throughout the off-season. For any questions regarding our 2015 season, please give us a call at (479) 927-4900.

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

-Naturals-