Adam Chasing Dream

Pitcher Has Opportunity To Play For Favorite Team

Jason Adam, Northwest Arkansas Naturals pitcher, during practice Monday at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale. Adam will make his Class Double-A debut on Friday night for the Naturals against the Midland RockHounds.
Jason Adam, Northwest Arkansas Naturals pitcher, during practice Monday at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale. Adam will make his Class Double-A debut on Friday night for the Naturals against the Midland RockHounds.

SPRINGDALE — Jason Adam was especially excited when his favorite team, the Kansas City Royals, selected him in the fifth round of the 2010 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

The 6-foot-4 righthanded pitcher grew up a short drive from Kaufman Stadium in Overland Park, Kan., so he’s imagined himself on the mound in a Royals uniform.

Adam will be a step closer to achieving his dream when he makes his Class Double-A debut on Friday night for the Naturals against the Midland RockHounds.

He’s excited to be in Double-A and especially in the Royals’ organization.

Today's Ticket

Midland at Northwest Arkansas Naturals

FIRST PITCH: 6:20 p.m.

WHERE: Arvest Ballpark, Springdale.

ON THE AIR: KQSM FM-92.1

RECORDS: Midland (0-0); Northwest Arkansas (0-0)

Homestand Schedule

• Friday: vs. Midland, 7 p.m.

• Saturday: vs. Midland 7 p.m.

• Sunday: vs. Frisco, 2 p.m.

• Monday: vs. Frisco, 7 p.m.

• Tuesday: vs. Frisco, 7 p.m.

This Week’s Promotions

Today: Magnet Naturals schedule giveaway to first 5,000 fans; Also first inductee to the Naturals Hall of Fame will be announced prior to the game; Benjamin Wade, three-time veteran of TV show Survivor will signing autographs from 6-7:30 p.m. on the main concourse also on Thursday; Postgame fireworks.

Friday: Meet the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtes on Friday; Postgame fireworks.

Saturday: Ballpark giveaway to first 2,500 fans

Sunday: Kids 12-and-under eat free and can run the bases after the game.

Monday: Hot dogs are $1 and fans who bring their Ozarks Electric bill or Co-op Conections card to the ticket office can can buy one ticket and get a second free for Monday’s game.

“Oh yeah, it’s fun watching as a Royals fan,” Adam said. “Hopefully someday I get to join them. It’s extra incentive playing for my favorite team.”

Others are also plenty excited about Adam’s potential on the mound heading into his third season of professional baseball.

Naturals manager Brian Poldberg said he can’t wait to see Adam on the mound in Arvest Ballpark. Adam made an impression earlier this spring when he pitched against Triple-A Omaha in spring training, Poldberg said.

“Talking to the guys that have Triple-A experience, they all came up to me and go, ‘This guy has good stuff.,’” Poldberg said. “He does have a power arm and he able to throw a breaking ball that is a plus pitch at times.

“When he is locating the fastball, he can compete against anybody on any given night."

Even JJ Picollo, assistant general manager in charge of scouting and player development for the Royals, had good things to say about Adam’s progress.

“Adam had a tremendous spring,” Picollo said. “He and Brooks Pounders had the two most impressive spring trainings as any of our pitchers.

“We saw great improvement. We saw him do things with the baseball that we hadn’t seen before as far as command. His curveball has got better. We are pretty excited about him.”

Adam, rated as the No. 8 prospect in the Royals organization by Baseball America, acknowledged he needs to work on command of all three of his pitches, especially his change-up. Adam also admitted he needs to be better at holding runners.

“When I can establish my fastball in, it makes my curve better,” Adam said. “I have to hold runners better. It was a big issues two years ago, but I kinda clamed it down last year.

Adam has made stops at Low-A Kane County and Hi-A Wilmington the past two years and Naturals pitching coach Jim Brower said he’s shown some fine physical gifts, including a fastball that reaches in the mid-90s.

But now he will work as much on the mental side of baseball as much as physical side, said Brower, who spent nine years as pitcher in the Major Leagues and is in his first season with the Naturals.

“He’s just a first-class kid and works hard,” Brower said. “He listens and is extremely coachable. I had him his first year in pro ball. The physical tools, he’s got. He’s got a good feel of how to pitch. Now, he’ll learn things beyond that.”

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