2013 Texas League All-Star Game logo via the NW Arkansas Naturals

The Double-A NW Arkansas Naturals will be hosting the 2013 Texas League All-Star Game, which will be held on July 25th. It is the first time the ASG is going to Springdale, Arkansas. Arvest Ballpark will also be hosting the Home Run Derby, which is held prior to the ASG.

From the Naturals press release, GM Eric Edelstein talks about bringing the ASG to Arvest Ballpark:

“It is a great event and we are so honored to be hosting the Mid-Summer Classic,” says General Manager, Eric Edelstein.  “This is not only a time honored tradition for the baseball community but it is also a perfect opportunity to showcase the best of the Northwest Arkansas region.”

The NW Arkansas Naturals had six players named to the Texas League All-Star team on Thursday, four of which will start for the North Division on June 28th in Tulsa.

John Whittleman will start at first base (.257, ten homeruns, 32 RBIs, 17 doubles, 37 runs scored). Yem Prades (.278, 12 doubles, 33 runs scored) and Carlo Testa (.281, eight homeruns, 30 RBIs, 29 runs scored) will start in the outfield. Christian Colon will be the DH (.290, five homeruns, 24 RBIs, 28 runs scored, 11 stolen bases, 27 walks to 22 strikeouts).

Reliever Patrick Keating (2-1, 3.56 ERA in 22 games, seven saves, 30 strikeouts in 30.1 innings) and starter Justin Marks (3-2, 3.38 ERA in 12 starts, 49 strikeouts in 61.1 innings) round out the Naturals All-Stars.

Other Texas League All-Stars of note include the homerun and RBI leader Mike Olt of Frisco (Texas Rangers), Colorado Rockies third base prospect Nolan Arenado (he is one of eight Tulsa Drillers on the All-Star team), and former Natural Kevin Chapman, who was traded during spring training to the Houston Astros (Corpus Christi).

*All stats are as of June 15th via MiLb.com.

The minor league playoffs begin on Wednesday night for three of the KC Royals affiliates.

Triple-A Omaha begins its quest for the Pacific Coast League title against the Round Rock Express. It is a best-of-five series. Despite losing quite a few impactful players to the big leagues, the Storm Chasers have still excelled this season. It is unfamiliar territory for Omaha, as they will be playing their first playoff game in 13 years. Round Rock won the season series 11-5 and posted a club record 86 wins. The Express actually wanted to play Omaha because they feel they match up better against the Storm Chasers and have had success against them.

Omaha is dominated by left-handed hitters like Kila Ka’aihue, Clint Robinson, and Jarrod Dyson. The Express feel they can counter with lefty relievers like Beau Jones and big leaguer Michael Kirkman. Round Rock has come from behind to win 44 games in 2011.

Here are the pitching matchups for the first three games (Games 4 & 5 are if necessary):

• Game 1 (Wed 9/7): PCL Pitcher of the Year Luis Mendoza (12-5, 2.18 ERA) @  Eric Hurley (8-3, 5.55 ERA)
• Game 2 (Thurs 9/8): Vin Mazzaro (7-2, 4.29 ERA) @ Martin Perez (4-4, 6.43 ERA)
• Game 3 (Fri 9/9): Mike Montgomery (5-11, 5.32 ERA) vs. Neil Ramirez (4-3, 3.63 ERA)

Double-A NW Arkansas begins its quest for a repeat in the Texas League against the Arkansas Travelers. The Travelers won the first half division title, but struggled much of the second half after losing Mike Trout to the big leagues. Arkansas won the season series over the second half champion Naturals, 15-14.

Here are the pitching matchups for the first three games (Games 4 & 5 are if necessary):

• Game 1 (Wed 9/7): Chris Dwyer (8-10, 5.60 ERA) @ TL Pitcher of the Year Matt Shoemaker (12-5, 2.48 ERA)
• Game 2 (Thurs 9/8): Jake Odorizzi (5-3, 4.72 ERA) @ Chris Scholl (4-3, 2.32 ERA)
• Game 3 (Fri 9/9): Mario Santiago (5-1, 2.23 ERA) vs. Orangel Arenas (9-10, 4.48 ERA)

*UPDATE: Elisaul Pimentel and Kevin Chapman were taken off the Naturals playoff roster to make room for Ryan Dennick and Justin Marks from Wilmington. Congrats to Dennick and Marks!

The Kane County Cougars begin their playoff season with a best-of-three series against the Western Division first half champion Burlington Bees (who last year was the Royals Low-A affiliate). The Bees won the season series 8-7 over the Cougars. Brian Fletcher of the Cougars won the Midwest League batting title and pitcher Greg Billo will be counted on to give the Cougars a win. Billo led minor league baseball in ERA for most of the season and struck out 119 batters (compared to just 25 walks) in 135 innings pitches.

Here are the pitching matchups for the three game series (Game 3 is if necessary):

• Game 1 (Wed 9/7): Greg Billo (9-5, 1.93 ERA) vs. Blake Hassebrock (7-8, 2.64 ERA)
• Game 2 (Thurs 9/8): Yordano Ventura (4-6, 4.27 ERA) @ Josh Bowman (8-6, 3.55 ERA)
• Game 3 (Fri 9/9): Jason Adam (6-9, 4.23 ERA) @ Jose Macias (8-4, 3.46 ERA)

The Naturals ring ceremony in spring training (John Owen)

Even though the Royals already held a ring ceremony during spring training for their Double-A NW Arkansas Naturals, as they were the 2010 Texas League Champions, the Naturals will hold their own ceremony to honor the returning players.

The Championship Ring (John Owen)

Tonight on Opening Night, the 17 returning Naturals will receive their championship rings and the Texas League Champions flag will be unveiled, as it will fly for every home game this season.

Tonight’s lineup for the Naturals:

Robinson (CF)

Colon (SS)

Myers (RF)

Romak (DH)

Bianchi (2B)

Perez (C)

Mertins (3B)

Seratelli (1B)

VanStratten (LF)

Dwyer (P)

*The highlight of the series between the Naturals and the visiting San Antonio Missions may be Friday night as the San Diego Padres top prospect Casey Kelly will start against John Lamb (the Royals 4th best prospect).