KC Royals: Breaking Down the Minor Leagues One Month In

AA – Northwest Arkansas Naturals (18-12)

The Northwest Arkansas Naturals started the week in the third game of a series against the Springfield Cardinals. They fell 9-1 with Matt Tenuta and the bullpen getting rocked. Cardinals pitcher Matt Pearce pitches a gem, giving up one run in eight innings.

The Naturals fell the next day too, splitting the four game series.

The Naturals would then return home for a home series with the Arkansas Travelers. This would be their second straight four game series. The team would got back on track, prevailing 4-0. The bottom of the order would do all the dirty work this series with Mauricio Ramos, Allan de San Miguel, and Humberto Arteaga all collecting multiple hits. Ashton Goudeau collected the fourth save of his minor league career.

The pitching staff would stay hot for the Naturals the rest of the series, only giving up three runs the rest of the way. This would include a great bullpen performance on Sunday after Miguel Almonte had to leave after one inning with a fingernail issue. Sam Selman provided 3.2 scoreless innings.

This would also include a bounce back performance by Matt Tenuta. He threw six scoreless, only allowing four baserunners. Put that along with Frank Schwindel’s sixth homer of the year and the Naturals found victory, 3-1.

Player of the Week – Frank Schwindel: What a season Frank Schwindel has had. Not really considered on the prospect radar, Schwindel is spending his third season in the Texas League. Put he has now found dominance. Schwindel is 4th in the league in OPS, 7th in wOBA, and 3rd in average.