Former Riders outfielder Nomar Mazara heads to big leagues
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, ARK. (April 10, 2016) - The Texas Rangers announced on Sunday that they have promoted prospect Nomar Mazara to the Major Leagues for the first time in his career. Mazara, the reigning Tom Grieve Minor League Player of the Year, played with the Frisco RoughRiders, the Double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers, for parts of each of the last two seasons.
Mazara, 20, has logged three games with Triple-A Round Rock thus far this season. The outfielder has hit .500 (6-for-12) with a home run, four RBI, and a walk for the Express. In his two-year stint with Frisco in 2014 and 2015, the Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic native, hit .287 in 135 Double-A games. Mazara logged the majority of those games, 111, in 2015 when he was a Texas League Mid-season All-Star. During his Frisco tenure, Mazara twice won Texas League Player of the Week, knocked out 16 home runs, and collected 29 doubles, three triples, drove in 72 runs, and scored 67 times. He was named a MiLB.com Organization All-Star following the 2014 season and was named the 2015 Tom Grieve Minor League Player of the Year for the Rangers. He entered the 2016 season as the No. 3-ranked prospect according to both MLBPipeline.com and Baseball America.
Mazara will replace outfielder Shin-Soo Choo, who is expected to be placed on the disabled list.
The Riders continue their road trip Sunday night with a 6:10 p.m. tilt in North Little Rock against the Arkansas Travelers.
The RoughRiders will open their 2016 home schedule at Dr Pepper Ballpark on Thursday, April 14 against the Northwest Arkansas Naturals. Opening Night will be the first Thirsty Thursday of the season with $1 domestic draft beers, $2 craft and import beers, and $1 Dr Pepper Products from 6:00-8:00 p.m. The first 2,000 fans to enter the ballpark will receive a 2016 RoughRiders schedule magnet and after the game, everyone in attendance will be invited onto the field to watch an incredible post-game fireworks show.
Tickets are available now online at RidersBaseball.com, via email at [email protected], over the phone at (972) 731-9200, or in-person at the RoughRiders box office.
About the RoughRiders
The Frisco RoughRiders are the Double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers and play their games at beautiful Dr Pepper Ballpark in Frisco, Texas. The team was founded in 2003 and has finished first among all Double-A franchises in attendance in each of the last 11 seasons (2005-2015). In August 2014, the RoughRiders were purchased by an ownership group led by Chuck Greenberg and Scott Sonju. The new ownership group has spearheaded numerous major franchise improvements, from a completely new team identity to massive additions and upgrades to Dr Pepper Ballpark, including a giant new video board, sound system, sports bar, team store, improved food service and menu, and a complete overhaul of in-game entertainment. The improvements earned the Riders and the City of Frisco "Best Ballpark Renovation" of 2015 by Ballpark Digest in the under $6 million category. More than 130 former RoughRiders players have gone on to play Major League Baseball, including All-Stars Chris Davis, Elvis Andrus, Adrian Gonzalez and Ian Kinsler. For more information on the Frisco RoughRiders and Dr Pepper Ballpark, please visit RidersBaseball.com or contact Nathan Barnett at (972) 334-1976 or via e-mail at [email protected].
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