Naturals' Adams Made Right Choice

STAFF PHOTO ANTHONY REYES Lane Adams, Northwest Arkansas Naturals outfielder, throws to the infield Monday at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale.
STAFF PHOTO ANTHONY REYES Lane Adams, Northwest Arkansas Naturals outfielder, throws to the infield Monday at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale.

— Lane Adams glided back onto the warning track at Arvest Ballpark to snag a fly ball during the Northwest Arkansas Naturals' workout Monday afternoon. A little later he launched a baseball well over the left-field wall in batting practice.

The 24-year-old showed off some of the skills that got the attention of the Kansas City Royals when he was playing high school baseball in eastern Oklahoma.

Profile

Lane Adams

Position: Outfielder

Height:6-foot-4

Weight: 198

Bats: Right

Throws: Right

Notable: Selected in the 13th round of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft by the Kansas City Royals. … Hit .244 with five home runs, 26 RBIs and was 15-of-15 in stolen bases in 44 games for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals a year ago. … Was promoted to Triple-A Omaha last year after the Naturals’ season ended and helped the Storm Chasers win the Pacific Coast League championship and the Triple-A national championship. … Added to the Royals’ 40-man roster during the offseason. … Shared the Royals’ Minor League Player of the Year honors last season with pitcher Yordano Ventura, who started last season with the Naturals. … Rated as the No. 18 prospect in the Royals farm system by Baseball America. … Hit three home runs in a game, tying a Naturals record Aug. 13 against Corpus Christi. … Ranked fifth all-time in scoring in Oklahoma High School basketball history upon graduation with 3,251 points for Red Oak. … Turned down basketball scholarship offer to Missouri State to play professional baseball.

Northwest Arkansas Naturals Schedule

Date^Opponent^Time

April 3^at Frisco^7:05 p.m.

April 4^at Frisco^7:05 p.m.

April 5^at Frisco^7:05 p.m.

April 6^at Midland^4 p.m.

April 7^at Midland^6:30 p.m.

April 8^at Midland^6:30 p.m.

April 10^ Frisco^6:05 p.m.

April 11^ Frisco^7:05 p.m.

April 12^ Frisco^6:05 p.m.

April 13^ Midland^2:05 p.m.

April 14^ Midland^7:05 p.m.

April 15^ Midland^7:05 p.m.

April 16^at Tulsa^7:05 p.m.

April 17^at Tulsa^7:05 p.m.

April 18^at Tulsa^7:05 p.m.

April 19^at Tulsa^7:05 p.m.

April 21^ Springfield^7:05 p.m.

April 22^ Springfield^7:05 p.m.

April 23^ Springfield^11:05 a.m.

April 24^ Springfield^7:05 p.m.

April 25^at Tulsa^7:05 p.m.

April 26^at Tulsa^7:05 p.m.

April 27^ Tulsa^2:05 p.m.

April 28^ Tulsa^11:05 a.m.

April 29^at Springfield^7:10 p.m.

April 30^at Springfield^11:10 a.m.

May 2014 (all times local unless noted)

May 1^at Springfield^7:10 p.m.

May 2^at Springfield^7:10 p.m.

May 3^Arkansas^7:05 p.m.

May 4^Arkansas^2:05 p.m.

May 5^Arkansas^7:05 p.m.

May 6^Arkansas^11:05 a.m.

May 8^Springfield^7:05 p.m.

May 9^Springfield^7:35 p.m.

May 10^Springfield^6:05 p.m.

May 11^Springfield^2:05 p.m.

May 12^at Arkansas^7:10 p.m.

May 13^at Arkansas^7:10 p.m.

May 14^at Arkansas^11 a.m.

May 15^at Arkansas^7:10 p.m.

May 16^ Tulsa^7:05 p.m.

May 17^Tulsa^6:05 p.m.

May 18^at Tulsa^2:05 p.m.

May 19^at Tulsa^11:05 a.m.

May 21^San Antonio^7:05 p.m.

May 22^San Antonio^7:05 p.m.

May 23^San Antonio^7:05 p.m.

May 24^Corpus Christi^6:05 p.m.

May 25^Corpus Christi^6:05 p.m.

May 26^Corpus Christi^1:05 p.m.

May 27^at San Antonio^7:05 p.m.

May 28^at San Antonio^7:05 p.m.

May 29^at San Antonio^7:05 p.m.

May 30^at Corpus Christi^7:10 p.m.

May 31^at Corpus Christi^7:10 p.m.

June 2014 (all times local unless noted)

June 1^at Corpus Christi^6:10 p.m.

June 3^Tulsa^7:05 p.m.

June 4^Tulsa^7:05 p.m.

June 5^Tulsa^6:05 p.m.

June 6^Tulsa^7:05 p.m.

June 7^at Arkansas^7:10 p.m.

June 8^at Arkansas^2:10 p.m.

June 9^at Arkansas^7:10 p.m.

June 10^at Arkansas^7:10 p.m.

June 11^at Springfield^7:10 p.m.

June 12^at Springfield^7:10 p.m.

June 13^at Springfield^7:10 p.m.

June 14^at Springfield^6:10 p.m.

June 15^Arkansas^6:05 p.m.

June 16^Arkansas^7:05 p.m.

June 17^Arkansas^7:05 p.m.

June 18^Arkansas^12:05 p.m.

June 19^Tulsa^7:05 p.m.

June 20^Tulsa^7:05 p.m.

June 21^Tulsa^6:05 p.m.

June 22^Tulsa^2:05 p.m.

June 25^at Midland^6:30 p.m.

June 26^at Midland^7 p.m.

June 27^at Midland^7 p.m.

June 28^at Frisco^7:05 p.m.

June 29^at Frisco^6:05 p.m.

June30^at Frisco^11:05 a.m.

July 2^Midland^7:05 p.m.

July 3^Midland^7:05 p.m.

July 4^Midland^7:05 p.m.

July 5^Frisco^7:05 p.m.

July 6^Frisco^6:05 p.m.

July 7^Frisco^7:05 p.m.

July 9^at Springfield^7:10 p.m.

July 10^at Springfield^7:10 p.m.

July 11^at Springfield^7:10 p.m.

July 12^at Springfield^6:10 p.m.

July 13^Tulsa^6:05 p.m.

July 14^Tulsa^7:05 p.m.

July 15^Tulsa^7:05 p.m.

July 16^Tulsa^7:05 p.m.

July 17^at Springfield^7:10 p.m.

July 18^at Springfield^7:10 p.m.

July 19^at Springfield^6:10 p.m.

July 20^at Springfield^6:10 p.m.

July 21^Arkansas^7:05 p.m.

July 22^Arkansas^7:05 p.m.

July 23^Arkansas^7:05 p.m.

July 24^Springfield^7:05 p.m.

July 25^Springfield^7:05 p.m.

July 26^Springfield^7:35 p.m.

July 27^Springfield^6:05 p.m.

July 28^at Arkansas^7:10 p.m.

July 29^at Arkansas^7:10 p.m.

July 30^at Arkansas^7:10 p.m.

July 31^at Tulsa^7:05 p.m.

Aug. 1^at Tulsa^7:05 p.m.

Aug. 2^at Tulsa^7:05 p.m.

Aug. 3^at Tulsa^7:05 p.m.

Aug. 5^Corpus Christi^7:05 p.m.

Aug. 6^Corpus Christi^7:05 p.m.

Aug. 7^Corpus Christi^7:05 p.m.

Aug. 8^San Antonio^7:05 p.m.

Aug. 9^San Antonio^6:05 p.m.

Aug. 10^San Antonio^6:05 p.m.

Aug. 12^at Corpus Christi^7:10 p.m.

Aug. 13^at Corpus Christi^7:10 p.m.

Aug. 14^at Corpus Christi^7:10 p.m.

Aug. 15^at San Antonio^7:05 p.m.

Aug. 16^at San Antonio^7:05 p.m.

Aug. 17^at San Antonio^6:05 p.m.

Aug. 19^Springfield^7:05 p.m.

Aug. 20^Springfield^7:05 p.m.

Aug. 21^Springfield^7:05 p.m.

Aug. 22^Springfield^7:35 p.m.

Aug. 23^at Arkansas^7:10 p.m.

Aug. 24^at Arkansas^2:10 p.m.

Aug. 25^at Arkansas^7:10 p.m.

Aug. 26^at Tulsa^7:05 p.m.

Aug. 27^at Tulsa^7:05 p.m.

Aug. 28^at Tulsa^7:05 p.m.

Aug. 29^at Tulsa^7:05 p.m.

Aug. 30^Arkansas^6:05 p.m.

Aug. 31^Arkansas^6:05 p.m.

Sept. 1^Arkansas^1:05 p.m.

Adams, a 13th-round pick of the Royals in the 2009 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, turned more heads in spring training this year and appears poised for a breakout type year, according to Naturals manager Vance Wilson.

"I expect big things from Lane," Wilson said. "He's twice the player he was last year. You know, you make the 40-man roster and you go to big league camp, that does something to your confidence. I think it's the fact that he realizes he belongs. I think he's over scratching the surface of his potential. I think he's coming into his own."

He will start in center field for the Naturals, the Royals' Double-A affiliate, and hit the third spot in the batting order when they open the season tonight at Frisco.

The Talihina, Okla., native played at three levels in the minor leagues last season, including spending 44 games with the Naturals. His season wasn't finished even when the Naturals failed to make the playoffs.

Instead, he was summoned to Triple-A Omaha for the postseason and helped the Storm Chasers win the Pacific Coast League crown and the Triple-A national title. Adams was a key component, starting every game of the postseason in left field. He also went 3-for-5 with four RBIs in the deciding game of the PCL championship series against Salt Lake.

J.J. Picollo, Royals assistant general manager for scouting and player development, is one who has been impressed with the 6-foot-4 Adams' athleticism and progress as a baseball player.

"We make a point to sign as many athletically oriented players as we can, and Lane definitely fits that mold," Picollo said. "He's come a long way from when we signed him to now, and at 24, we feel his better days are ahead."

Adams acknowledged he's spent a few years in the minor leagues trying to fine-tune his baseball skills since he concentrated on basketball during his high school years.

"I knew when I signed I was behind everybody," Adams said. "All these guys played baseball in the summers, all year, and I played baseball in high school. The summer was all basketball for me.

"Growing up, basketball was the most important thing in my life. Mom coached a little bit. I worked on it every day. Growing up, I had countless friends and family tell me baseball's something I could be good at; I just liked basketball more. The last two years, I've made some big strides, I think"

Basketball is a sport Adams became very good at, too. It just ultimately took a backseat to baseball.

He finished fifth on the all-time scoring list in Oklahoma High School basketball history with 3,251 points at Red Oak High and accepted a scholarship to play basketball at Missouri State under then-coach Cuonzo Martin, who helped guide Tennessee to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 this year. Adams had even attended summer school classes a couple of days in Springfield, Mo., before he was drafted and decided to try professional baseball.

Picollo pointed to Adams' ability to impact the game in other ways beside his bat makes him stand out, too. He stole 15 bases without being caught for the Naturals a year ago. Picollo said Adams' progression gives him the chance to move up in the system.

"He's a very well-rounded guy," Picollo said. "From a defensive standpoint, he's outstanding. He plays a good center field and can impact the game on the bases. When he hits a ground ball, the defense has that sense of urgency. We're optimistic and would look for an opportunity to move him to Triple-A."

Sports on 04/03/2014

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