ROYALS TAB FERGUSON, ADAMS FOR ORGANIZATIONAL AWARDS
SPRINGDALE, Ark. - The Kansas City Royals announced the organizational Pitcher and Player of the Year Awards today, September 4 and honored five current and former 2013-2014 Northwest Arkansas Naturals.
RHP Andy Ferguson and OF Lane Adams were tabbed Pitcher and Player of the Year, respectively for Northwest Arkansas, while the Royals No. 7 prospect, INF Hunter Dozier received Player of the Year honors for the High-A Wilmington Blue Rocks. Dozier finished the 2014 season with the Naturals. Meanwhile, OF Whit Merrifield, who opened the 2014 campaign with Northwest Arkansas, was named the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers Player of the Year and 2013 Naturals' Pitcher of the Year, RHP Aaron Brooks, was honored with the same distinction for the second consecutive season, this time with Omaha.
All of this year's award winners will be at Kauffman Stadium on Friday, September 19 for Futures Night, where they will take part in an autograph session at Gate A from 5:30 to 6:15 p.m., as well as be honored in an on-field presentation prior to the Royals game with the Detroit Tigers.
Ferguson had a breakout year for Northwest Arkansas in 2014. The righty from Benton, Arkansas went 11-10 on the season ranking first on the club in wins. He also made a lot of noise in the Texas League by ranking fifth among all starters with a 2.93 ERA and he punched out 118 hitters on the season to rank sixth in the league. Ferguson tossed 147.2 innings which ranked 7th in the league and twirled two nine-inning complete games, including a shutout. He was named to the Texas League Postseason All-Star team after a dominant second half of the season that saw him post a 7-4 record with a 2.20 ERA in 12 starts and he won four of his last five decisions. He closed the season with the Storm Chasers making two starts and earning a win.
Adams, the Royals No. 18 prospect, showcased his speed this season by ranking third in the Texas League with 38 stolen bases. He finished the year hitting .269 but had a stellar second half in boasting a .316 average with 12 doubles, 19 RBI and seven homers. The 24-year-old Red Oak, Oklahoma native was named the Texas League Player of the Month for June as hit posted a .313 average with nine doubles, seven homers and 19 RBI during 26 games. Adams' big season resulted in a 2014 mid-season and postseason Texas League All-Star selection. The centerfielder missed just under a month in July due to injury, but returned to put up a solid .295 average with five doubles, a homer and nine stolen bases during August. The former 13th-round draft pick was recalled by Kansas City on September 1 and made his Major League debut on that same day as a pinch runner.
Merrifield was one of the Naturals most consistent hitters, never going two-straight games without recording a hit in 32 contests after April 16 and he carried his success into Omaha where he was promoted to on June 6. The outfielder improved upon his hitting early in the season with Northwest Arkansas by pummeling Pacific Coast League pitching with a .340 average and 28 doubles, ranking 3rd on the team in 49 fewer games than Matt Fields (29) and 38 fewer games than Johnny Giavotella (33), both former Naturals. He also collected 3 triples, 3 home runs, 29 RBI and 11 stolen bases.
Brooks took home Pitcher of the Year honors for Omaha after accomplishing the same feat for Northwest Arkansas in 2013. The Californian put up a strong 12-3 record with the Storm Chasers during the 2014 season with a nine-inning complete game during his second to last outing of the season; he finished the year with four-consecutive wins. He ranked second on the team in strikeouts (97) and first in innings pitched (139.0). Brooks' 3.88 ERA was good for seventh among Pacific Coast League pitchers. In 2013 his 12 wins for the Naturals ranked second, while being one of three Naturals' pitchers to reach the 100 strikeout plateau.
Dozier, the Royals' first-round pick in 2013, split the season between Wilmington and Northwest Arkansas. He hit .295 with 18 doubles, four homers and 39 RBI in 66 games for the Blue Rocks, before finishing the year in Double-A. He was selected as the Carolina League Player of the Week on May 26, hitting .550 (11-for-20) with four doubles, four RBI and eight runs scored over the previous week. The Denton, Texas native made his Double-A debut with the Naturals on June 19. Dozier previously won Idaho Falls Player of the Year honors in 2013.
Glenn Sparkman, 22, was named Wilmington Pitcher of the Year. He went 8-3 with the top ERA (1.56) in the Carolina League, allowing just 21 earned runs in 121.0 innings, which spanned 29 outings over 18 starts. He recorded a 0.98 WHIP, which ranked second in the league, while he was seventh with 117 strikeouts. Sparkman was named Carolina League Player of the Year on August 28. The right-hander was selected in the 20th round of the 2013 June Free Agent Draft.
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 (AA 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.
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