NORTHWEST ARKANSAS NATURALS LEAD NORTH DIVISION TO TEXAS LEAGUE ALL-STAR GAME
Springdale, Ark. - Led by reigning Texas League Player of the Month in May, first baseman Balbino Fuenmayor, along with second baseman Angel Franco, designated hitter Mike Bianucci and outfielder Jorge Bonifacio, four Northwest Arkansas Naturals have been selected to start in the 79th annual Texas League All-Star Game from Corpus Christi, TX., at Whataburger Field on Tuesday, June 30, 2015. In addition, infielders Raul Mondesi and Alex Liddi, outfielder Terrance Gore, and pitchers J.C. Sulbaran will join their fellow teammates in receiving this honor.
Texas League President Tom Kayser announced the Players elected to the June 30th exhibition game between the North and South divisions that recognize the top stars in the Texas League.
Of the Naturals' nine representatives, two rank in the Kansas City Royals' top 10 prospect list according to MLB.com, Bonifacio at nine and Mondesi ranks as the top prospect within the organization. This marks Bonifacio's second straight Texas League All-Star Game appearance, while Mondesi will be making his first trip. Fuenmayor, Liddi, Gore and Sulbaran will each be making their first appearance as well.
The 79th Annual Texas League All-Star Game in Corpus Christi will be Franco's second appearance, his previous coming at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale during the 2013 season. 2015 marks Bianucci's second Texas League All-Star Game appearance, previously receiving the honor as a member of the Frisco RoughRiders in 2011.
The designated hitter, Bianucci's, as well as Bonifacio and Fuenmayor rank first, second and third respectively in the North Division in home runs with 11, 10 and 10, while Fuenmayor also leads the North with a .345 batting average, .558 slugging percentage and 37 RBI. Gore, voted in as a reserve outfielder for the North Division, leads the Texas League with 24 stolen bases, while only having been caught twice.
The two leaders in their respective divisions, the Northwest Arkansas Naturals and Corpus Christi Hooks, each led in representation with eight players each on the initial roster (prior to replacements). With the addition of Colin Walsh, Ryon Healy and Chad Pinder, Midland also has eight representatives selected.
In total, 8 players chosen for the North-South match-up rank among the top 100 prospects in Major League Baseball according to MLB.com. Of the players selected, Frisco's Joey Gallo, and Corpus Christi's, Vincent Velasquez and Lance McCullers, have already been promoted to their parent Major League team this season. Gallo ranks eighth among top prospects in Major League Baseball, according to MLB.com, the highest among 2015 Texas League All-Stars, while Mondesi ranks highest among current active players in the Texas League, at 35th among MLB prospects.
The North Division will be managed by Tulsa Drillers' Razor Shines and his staff including pitching coach Matt Herges, hitting coach Shawn Wooten, coach Leo Garcia, trainer Aaron Schumacher and strength and conditioning coach Paul Sterrett. The hometown club, Corpus Christi, will coach the South Division including Hooks' Manager Rodney Linares, pitching coach Doug Brocail, hitting coach Dan Radison, coach Tom Lawless and athletic trainer Grant Hufford.
Players were selected through polling each team's managers, hitting coaches, pitching coaches, broadcasters and one media representative. A voter was not allowed to choose players from their own club.
The complete list of 2015 Texas League All-Stars are listed below.
2015 North Division All-Star Team
Starters
|
POS |
PLAYER |
TEAM |
|
C |
Mike Ohlman |
SPR |
|
1B |
Balbino Fuenmayor |
NWA |
|
2B |
Angel Franco |
NWA |
|
SS |
Luis Mateo |
TUL |
|
3B |
Brian Hernandez |
ARK |
|
OF |
Jorge Bonifacio |
NWA |
|
OF |
Jeremy Hazelbaker |
SPR |
|
OF |
Charlie Tilson |
SPR |
|
DH |
Mike Bianucci |
NWA |
Reserves
|
POS |
PLAYER |
TEAM |
|
C |
Raywilly Gomez |
ARK |
|
INF |
Raul Mondesi |
NWA |
|
INF |
Alex Liddi |
NWA |
|
OF |
Terrance Gore |
NWA |
Pitchers
|
PLAYER |
TEAM |
|
Chris Anderson |
TUL |
|
Kyle Barraclough |
SPR |
|
Joey Donofrio |
SPR |
|
Trevor Gott # |
ARK |
|
Jeremy Horst |
TUL |
|
Jeremy Kehrt |
TUL |
|
Chris O'Grady |
ARK |
|
Arturo Reyes |
SPR |
|
Nate Smith |
ARK |
|
Albert Suarez |
ARK |
|
J.C. Sulbaran |
NWA |
|
Chris Thomas$ |
SPR |
2014 South Division All-Star Team
Starters
|
POS |
PLAYER |
TEAM |
|
C |
Carson Blair |
MID |
|
1B |
Conrad Gregor |
CC |
|
2B |
Tony Kemp# |
CC |
|
SS |
Trea Turner+ |
SA |
|
3B |
Joey Gallo* |
FRI |
|
OF |
Travis Jankowski |
SA |
|
OF |
Chad Oberacker |
MID |
|
OF |
Nick Williams |
FRI |
|
DH |
Matt Olson |
MID |
|
2B |
Colin Walsh$ |
MID |
|
3B |
Ryon Healy$ |
MID |
|
SS |
Chad Pinder$ |
MID |
Reserves
|
POS |
PLAYER |
TEAM |
|
C |
Jorge Alfaro+ |
FRI |
|
INF |
Drew Robinson |
FRI |
|
INF |
Tyler White |
CC |
|
OF |
Nomar Mazara |
FRI |
|
C |
Roberto Pena$ |
CC |
Pitchers
|
PLAYER |
TEAM |
|
Travis Ballew |
CC |
|
Chris Devenski |
CC |
|
Ryan Dull |
MID |
|
Jandel Gustave |
CC |
|
Justin Hancock |
SA |
|
Nate Long |
MID |
|
Lance McCullers* |
CC |
|
Jesus Pirela |
FRI |
|
Colin Rea |
SA |
|
Jake Thompson |
FRI |
|
Vincent Velasquez* |
CC |
|
David Martinez$ |
FRI |
|
Tayron Guerrero$ |
SA |
*Currently on parent club's Major League Roster
#Promoted to parent club's Triple-A Roster
+Injured/Traded
$Replacement
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-