Mark Peterson Promoted to Northwest Arkansas

SPRINGDALE, Ark. - The Kansas City Royals announced the following transaction impacting the Northwest Arkansas Naturals active 25-man roster, right-handed pitcher Mark Peterson has been promoted from High-A Wilmington to Northwest Arkansas. This marks Peterson's first promotion to Double-A and the Naturals roster now stands at the Texas League limit of 25 players.

Peterson joins the Naturals after having a spectacular 2014 campaign with Wilmington. He appeared in more games than anyone else on the club, 33, and boasted a 1.31 ERA having allowed just eight runs, six earned, through 41.2 innings of work. Peterson departed Wilmington with the most saves in the Carolina league at 22; he had twice as many saves recorded as the next closest closer in the league, Robert Benincasa, who has 11.

The righty from Raleigh, NC, made waves throughout the Carolina League appearing in more games than any other pitcher and he finished more games than anybody else in the league, 31. He also held his opponents to a .211 batting average ranking fifth among all relievers. The 23-year-old pitcher signed with the Kansas City Royals as a non-drafted free agent on June 12, 2012. He began his college career and UNC-Greensboro in 2009 before transferring to Pitt CC in Winterville in 2010 where he went 6-1 helping Pitt reach the WJCAA World Series. He transferred to Redford University, where he earned his degree in 2012.

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-