SPRINGDALE -- A year ago the Kansas City Royals made a postseason run all the way to the World Series by riding a wave of homegrown talent.
Several of the Royals' front-office personnel were in Springdale two weeks ago to get an up-close look at what they believe might be the next wave of talent.
At A Glance
NWA NATURALS HOMESTAND TICKET
At Arvest Ballpark, Springdale
On The Air: KQSM-FM 92.1
Series Schedule
Today: vs. Springfield, 7:05 p.m.
Friday: : vs. Springfield, 7:15 p.m.
Saturday: vs. Springfield, 6:05 p.m.
Sunday: vs. Springfield, 2:05 p.m.
Monday: vs. Arkansas, 7:05 p.m.
Tuesday: vs. Arkansas, 7:05 p.m.
Wednesday: vs. Arkansas, 11:05 a.m.
Thursday: vs. Arkansas, 7:05 p.m.
Friday: vs. Tulsa, 7:05 p.m.
Saturday: vs. Tulsa, 6:05 p.m.
Sunday: vs. Tulsa, 6:05 p.m.
This Week’s Promotions
Today: Peanuts, small Coke products and mozzarella sticks are $1. Miller draft beer is $2.
Friday: There will be a pre-game concert by Moriah Peters beginning at 6 p.m. as part of Faith and Family Night. There will also be post-game fireworks.
Saturday: The first 2,000 fans will receive a Naturals replica road gray jersey.
Sunday: Kids under 12 eat free and can run the bases following the game.
Monday: Hot dogs are available for $1 and Ozark Electric customers can purchase buy one, get one free tickets for premium, reserved or berm seats if they bring a copy of their bill or Co-op Connections card to the box office.
Tuesday: Buy one, get one free tickets available for Arvest Bank customers. Johnsonville brats are $1. Groups of 20 or more can purchase reserved tickets for half price, but they must be purchased in advance.
Wednesday: School children will be offered discounted tickets as part of Swepco School Kids Day.
Thursday: First 1,000 fans will receive glow-in-the-dark sunglasses. Peanuts, small Coke products and mozzarella sticks are $1. Miller draft beer is $2.
Friday: Postgame fireworks.
Saturday: Postgame fireworks; all drinks in the craft beer corner half-price from 4:30-5:30 p.m.
Sunday: Postgame fireworks; Spongebob Squarepants appearing; kids under 12 eat free and also may run the bases after the game.
Ticket Packages
• Super Premium A: $12
• Premium: $10
• Reserved: $8
• Grass Berm: $7
• Super Premium Family: $12
• Premium Family: $10
Online
The Naturals' roster includes four of the top six prospects in the Royals organization as rated by Baseball America. Ronnie Richardson, the Royals' director of minor league operations, acknowledged these prospects are similar to players like Mike Moustakas or Eric Hosmer, who helped the Naturals win the Texas League championship in 2010 then keyed the Royals' run last season.
"This is a group we're really excited about," he said. "You look at that group like Moustakas or Hosmer, they played together in the minor leagues. Now this group, they have that team-first attitude and approach. They are competing for something each and every day."
Shortstop Raul Mondesi and pitcher Brandon Finnegan are 1-2 in the rankings, while third baseman Hunter Dozier comes in at No. 5 and right-handed pitcher Miguel Almonte is No. 6
Pitchers Sean Manaea and Kyle Zimmer (rated Nos. 3-4) would make it six of six in Springdale and that could happen soon, Picollo said. Both are in extended spring training in Arizona recovering from injuries.
The Naturals come into a long homestand today red-hot, winning 15 of their last 17. They sit in first place in the Texas League North Division, 2.5 games ahead of second-place Arkansas. They also have the best record in the league at 21-11.
J.J. Picollo, the Royals' vice president/assistant general manager in charge of player personnel, liked what he saw from the Naturals.
"It is a good group," Picollo said. "It's kind of a good mix of guys that are still youthful and have upside and learning."
Picollo said it was not an easy decision to start the 19-year-old Mondesi in Double-A, after hitting just .211 in 110 games at Class A advanced Wilmington last year. But he performed well in the Arizona Fall League and in spring training with the Royals.
The mix of young prospects and veterans on the Naturals roster also made helped him with that decision, Picollo said.
"Look at the make-up of this team, Hunter Dozier has been through it for part of a year," Picollo said. "You put a Mondesi in there with those guys who have kinda been through it and you feel better about putting them with players of similar ilk. It can rub off and have a positive influence on each other."
Unfortunately, Mondesi has played in just one game because of back strain, but Picollo said he should return soon.
Almonte (3-1) has found his stride, winning his last three starts. The right-hander has allowed just one earned run in his last 15 innings, struck out 12 and walked only four.
Finnegan has already made a trip back up to Kansas City to help in the bullpen, but returned to Northwest Arkansas to again work as a starter.
Picollo sees Finnegan as a starting pitcher, even after his success in the Royals' bullpen. The left-hander pitched 2.1 scoreless innings on Tuesday in his return to the Naturals
"We have a firm belief he can starter, because he has three pitches," Picollo said. "There's no question he can pitch in the big leagues. The best thing for his development is for him to come here."
Picollo is pleased with the group of talented players that have made it to the upper levels of the minor leagues in the Royals' system, particularly those in Northwest Arkansas.
"That's where I think our organization is healthy right now, our top guys are at upper levels," Picollo said. "We've gotta keep it going. We've gotta have guys in waves and I think we've got a pretty good wave."
Picollo and the Royals hope to catch that wave and be sitting on top of the baseball world soon.
Sports on 05/14/2015