Eight Naturals earn All-Star nods

It is looking like a banner year to be affiliated with the KC Royals in terms of playing in an All-Star Game.

Five games up in the North Division of the Texas League garnered NW Arkansas eight All-Stars for the upcoming TL All-Star Game, which will be held at Corpus Christi (who already clinched the South Division). Four were elected to start.

Hopefully, infielder Angel Franco is brought back from rookie ball to start the game at second base (he has not played since June 2nd). Franco is hitting .310 (fifth in the TL) with 11 doubles, two triples, and four home runs. He has scored 26 runs and driven in 19. Oh and he has walked 14 times compared to 16 strikeouts in 158 at-bats.

The reigning Texas League Player of the Month, Balbino Fuenmayor, was selected as the starting first baseman. He technically leads the TL in hitting at .345 (the leader was promoted to Triple-A) and is tied for third in the league with ten home runs. Fuenmayor has also hit 18 doubles, scored 38 runs, and driven in 37 (second in the TL).

Outfielder Jorge Bonifacio was also selected to start and it will be his second straight TL ASG. He is tied for third in the league with ten home runs and has driven in 34 runs. Bonifacio is only hitting .230 with 60 strikeouts (just 18 walks) in 213 at-bats.

Mike Bianucci was voted in as the starting DH. He is hitting .276 with 11 home runs (second in the TL) and 32 RBIs.

Shortstop Raul Mondesi is a reserve and is hitting .290, but with just eight extra bases hits in 100 at-bats. He has scored 13 runs and driven in 15. The walks are low (just three) and he has struck out 26 times. Mondesi is hitting .406 in his last ten games.

Outfielder Terrance Gore leads the TL with 24 stolen bases (and was caught twice). He is hitting .282 with an on-base percentage of .382. Gore has scored 30 runs.

Utility man Alex Liddi is hitting .282 with 12 doubles, five triples, and five home runs. He has scored 29 runs and driven in 24.

The lone Naturals pitcher selected for the ASG is JC Sulbaran, who is having a solid 2015 season. The starter is 4-4 with a 3.63 ERA in 12 starts. Over 67 innings, opponents have hit .263 against him. Sulbaran has walked 25 and struck out 48.