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MLB

Royals Announce AFL Players

Five Members of the 2012 Naturals to play in AFL
By Nathan Bowen
August 29, 2012
SPRINGDALE, AR - The Naturals' parent club the Kansas City Royals announced today that seven players from the organization will be participating in the Arizona Fall League. The players are pitchers Edwin Carl, Jon Keck, and Justin Marks, along with infielders Alex McClure, Whit Merrifield, Orlando Calixte, and outfielder Brian Fletcher.

Keck split the season between Class-A Advanced Wilmington and Northwest Arkansas. The left-hander has a combined record of 4-3 with an ERA of 3.32 and has appeared in 37 games (26 in AA) and worked 62.1 innings, while striking out 54.

Marks was promoted to Triple-A Omaha yesterday and posted a 3-5 record with a 3.80 ERA in 17 starts for the Naturals. The left-hander was named to the Texas League mid-season All-Star team. Marks last pitched on August 25 throwing five and a third innings against the Tulsa Drillers allowing just one unearned run.

McClure has appeared in 114 games this season between Wilmington and Northwest Arkansas and is hitting a combined .218 with a home run and 28 RBI.

Merrifield spent the majority of the season with Wilmington, before a recent promotion to the Naturals. The second baseman/outfielder is hitting a combined .260 in 119 games. Since his promotion, Merrifield is hitting .270 with a home run and seven RBI in Double-A.

Fletcher has occupied the third spot in the Naturals batting order since being promoted from Wilmington at the mid-way point of the season. The outfielder is hitting a combined .256 this season, and has tied a career high with 14 home runs.

Calixte and Carl split the season between Class-A Kane County and Wilmington. Carl has gone a combined 7-4 with a 2.92 ERA in 114.0 innings of work. Calixte has improved at the plate since being promoted to the Blue Rocks. The shortstop is hitting .289 with four home runs and 26 RBI in Wilmington, and has moved to the lead-off spot in the line up.

2012 marks the 21st season of the Arizona Fall League, created by Major League Baseball in 1992 to serve as an off-season league for top prospects. The season will begin on Tuesday October 9, with the Rising Stars Game set for November 3 and the Championship Game scheduled for November 17.

The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are the Double-A Texas League affiliate of the Kansas City Royals and play at state-of-the-art Arvest Ballpark, located in Springdale. Visit our website, nwanaturals.com, for information on season tickets and ticket plans.