The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are a Minor League Baseball team based in Springdale , Arkansas . The team is a member of the Texas League , and serves as the Double-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals . The Naturals play at Arvest Ballpark , which opened in 2008 and is located at the intersection of Gene George Boulevard and Watkins Avenue. The team relocated from Wichita , Kansas , in 2008, where it was known as the Wichita Wranglers .
31-585: James Conner Greene (born April 4, 1995) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles and Los Angeles Dodgers . The Toronto Blue Jays drafted him in the seventh round of the 2013 MLB draft . Greene attended Santa Monica High School , where he posted a 1.63 earned run average (ERA) and 76 strikeouts in his senior year, and
62-617: A 10–9 record, 3.51 ERA, and 99 strikeouts in a career-high 146 1 ⁄ 3 innings. After the 2016 season, the Blue Jays assigned Greene to the Mesa Solar Sox of the Arizona Fall League . He made four starts for Mesa. He struggled with his control, walking 11 batters in 10 total innings. Greene spent all of 2017 with New Hampshire. In 132 2 ⁄ 3 innings (26 games with 25 being starts), Greene went 5–10 with
93-726: A 5.29 ERA and 92 strikeouts. He continued to struggle with his command, issuing 83 walks. On November 20, 2017, Greene was added to Toronto's 40-man roster. On January 19, 2018, the Blue Jays traded Greene along with Dominic Leone to the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for Randal Grichuk . He began the 2018 season with the Double-A Springfield Cardinals and was promoted to the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds in June. In forty games (ten starts) between
124-543: A 7.11 ERA with 26 strikeouts. On March 14, 2022, Greene re-signed with the Orioles organization on a minor league contract that included an invitation to Spring Training. In 16 games for the Triple-A Norfolk Tides , he struggled to a 10.61 ERA with 18 strikeouts across 18 + 2 ⁄ 3 innings pitched. The Orioles organization released Greene on June 20. Conner Greene's journey led him to sign with
155-546: A black player's head. Now, however, baseball is fully integrated, and there is little to no racial tension between teammates. Between 1943 and 1954, the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League fielded teams in several Midwestern towns. Northwest Arkansas Naturals The Wichita Wranglers had struggled with low attendance numbers and an aging Lawrence–Dumont Stadium throughout Bob Rich Jr.'s 18-year ownership of
186-589: A coincidence, the Triple-A Bisons were formerly the Wichita Aeros , meaning Rich has purchased two teams that had played previously in Wichita, Kansas . The "Naturals" name was chosen after receiving 33 percent of the votes in an online fan poll, beating the second-place choice, "Thunder Chickens," by six percent. The "Thunder Chickens" moniker was a nod to Springdale-based Tyson Foods , which
217-540: A contentious and evenly split issue in Northwest Arkansas. The July vote on a measure to extend a one-cent sales tax to raise $ 50 million for the stadium passed by only 15 votes. The team's nickname plays off the state's nickname as the "Natural State," as well as the Robert Redford film, The Natural . The Rich Family owes much of its baseball success to the film. In 1983, Bob Rich Jr. bought
248-412: Is friends with actor Charlie Sheen , and made several minor appearances on the television series Anger Management . Professional baseball Professional baseball is organized baseball in which players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system. It is played in leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world. Major League Baseball in
279-743: Is the nation's largest supplier of poultry products, and to the region's poultry industry. Every season, the team embraces the Thunder Chickens brand for a single game with matching uniforms and merchandise. The Naturals had early success, advancing to the playoffs in 2009 and 2010. In 2009, the Naturals won the North Division title, but lost in the Texas League championship series to the Midland RockHounds . In 2010,
310-539: The Baltimore Orioles organization. Greene was assigned to the Triple-A Norfolk Tides to begin the 2021 season. Greene posted a 1–3 record and a 7.39 ERA in 9 appearances with Norfolk. On July 24, 2021, Greene was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time. Greene made his MLB debut on July 27, pitching in relief against the Miami Marlins . He pitched two innings, giving up one run and striking out two. On August 7, 2021, Greene
341-764: The Commissioner of Baseball . Operating outside the Minor League Baseball organization are many independent minor leagues such as the Atlantic League , American Association , Frontier League , and the feeder league to these the Empire Professional Baseball League . Japan has had professional baseball since the 1930s. Nippon Professional Baseball consists of two leagues, the Central League and
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#1732797975331372-562: The Diablos Rojos del México of the Mexican League on July 2, 2022. Despite facing challenges, he persevered and played 12 games with a 2-0 record and a 6.00 ERA. In 2023, he continued to inspire with 30 appearances, 51.0 innings pitched, 38 strikeouts, and a 4-3 record. His determination and hard work are an inspiration to all aspiring athletes. On February 12, 2024, Greene was traded to another team , Guerreros de Oaxaca of
403-625: The Mexican League . However, on February 23, Greene signed a minor league contract with the Houston Astros . Conner Greene will start the upcoming season playing for the Sugar Land Space Cowboys at the Triple-A level. This marks Greene's 10th season in Minor League Baseball (MiLB). Conner Greene showcased himself as a dynamic presence on the mound, finishing the season with a record of 6 wins and 3 losses. His performance
434-602: The New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium . In conjunction with Major League Baseball 's restructuring of Minor League Baseball in 2021, the Naturals were organized into the Double-A Central . Though finishing the 2021 season in second place in the Northern Division at 64–55, the two teams with the highest winning percentages in the regular season competed in a best-of-five series to determine
465-730: The Pacific League , each with six teams. South Korea has had professional baseball since 1982. There are 10 teams in KBO League . Taiwan has had professional baseball since the 1990s. The Chinese Professional Baseball League absorbed Taiwan Major League in 2003. There are currently 6 teams in the CPBL. Other Asian leagues include three now defunct leagues, the China National Baseball League , Israel Baseball League , and Baseball Philippines . During
496-651: The United States and Canada consists of the National League (founded in 1876) and the American League (founded in 1901). Historically, teams in one league never played teams in the other until the World Series , in which the champions of the two leagues played against each other. This changed in 1997 with the advent of interleague play . The Philadelphia Phillies , founded in 1883, are
527-753: The 2014 season with the GCL Blue Jays and the Rookie Advanced Bluefield Blue Jays and posted a 3–4 record, 3.03 ERA, and 51 strikeouts in 59 1 ⁄ 3 innings pitched. Greene began the 2015 season with the Single-A Lansing Lugnuts , where he posted a 7–3 win–loss record, 3.88 ERA, and 65 strikeouts in 67 1 ⁄ 3 innings, before being promoted to the High-A Dunedin Blue Jays . He debuted for Dunedin on July 4 and took
558-656: The Double-A Buffalo Bisons , who had suffered low attendance the previous season, for $ 100,000. That year, Hollywood producers approached Rich about filming scenes for The Natural at Buffalo's War Memorial Stadium . Following the release of the film, local interest in the team rose and attendance at the Bisons' games nearly tripled. Rich was then able to finance the Bisons' move to the Triple-A American Association . In something of
589-525: The Naturals swept the first and second-half titles, won the North Division title for a second straight year, and avenged their loss to Midland in 2009, winning the Texas League title in a 3–1 series victory over the RockHounds. On June 8, 2008, pitcher Jeff Fulchino became the first former Natural to play in Major League Baseball , throwing a scoreless inning in relief during a 6–3 Royals loss to
620-548: The Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers , recording a cumulative 4–9 record and 5.13 ERA in 29 appearances. Greene was designated for assignment by Kansas City on November 20, 2019. Greene did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic . He became a free agent on November 2, 2020. On December 3, 2020, Greene signed a minor league contract with
651-469: The United States and Canada. The minor leagues are divided into classes AAA, AA, High-A, A, and Rookie. These minor-league divisions are affiliated with major league teams, and serve to develop young players and rehabilitate injured major-leaguers. "Affiliated baseball" (archaically, " organized baseball ") is often applied as an umbrella term for all leagues — major and minor — under the authority of
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#1732797975331682-594: The late 19th and early 20th centuries, players of black African descent were barred from playing the major leagues , though several did manage to play by claiming to be Cubans or Native Americans . As a result, a number of parallel Negro leagues were formed. However, after Jackie Robinson began playing with the major-league Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, the Negro leagues gradually faded. The process of integration did not go entirely smoothly; there were some ugly incidents, including pitchers who would try to throw directly at
713-558: The league champion. With the circuit's second-best record, the Naturals faced and defeated the Wichita Wind Surge , three games to zero, to win the Double-A Central championship. MJ Melendez won the league Most Valuable Player Award, and Bobby Witt Jr. was selected as its Top MLB Prospect. In 2022, the Double-A Central became known as the Texas League, the name historically used by the regional circuit prior to
744-629: The loss, allowing four runs on nine hits. On August 6, Greene set a career-high in strikeouts, with 10, while pitching seven shutout innings for Dunedin. He was then promoted to the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats , and took the win in his debut on August 13, pitching six shutout innings against the Akron RubberDucks . Greene made 26 starts in the 2015 season, posting a combined 12–7 record, 3.54 ERA, and 115 strikeouts in 132 1 ⁄ 3 innings. Greene
775-471: The oldest continuous same-name, same-city franchise in both Major League Baseball and all of American professional sports. In addition to the major leagues, many North American cities and towns feature minor league teams. An organization officially styled Minor League Baseball , formerly the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, oversees nearly all minor league baseball in
806-471: The team. In 2006, he sought a move to Springdale, contingent on a citizen vote to approve financing for a new stadium. The pro-baseball movement in Springdale had counted on the support of Ronnie Floyd , influential pastor of local megachurch First Baptist Church of Springdale. In June 2006, Floyd pulled support after it was discovered the team would serve alcohol at games, making professional baseball
837-706: The two clubs, he pitched to a 4–5 record with a 4.09 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP. After the season, the Cardinals assigned him to the Surprise Saguaros of the Arizona Fall League . On November 20, 2018, Greene was designated for assignment by the Cardinals. On November 26, 2018, Greene was claimed off waivers by the Kansas City Royals . Greene split the 2019 season between the Double-A Northwest Arkansas Naturals and
868-524: Was designated for assignment by the Orioles. Greene was claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Dodgers on August 9, 2021. He pitched in two games for the Dodgers, allowing two hits with no runs in two innings before he was designated for assignment on August 20. On August 23, 2021, Greene was reclaimed off waivers by the Orioles from the Dodgers. Greene pitched in 24 games in 2021, posting
899-579: Was drafted by the Blue Jays in the seventh round of the 2013 Major League Baseball draft . He had committed to play baseball at the College of Southern Nevada . Still, he chose to sign with the Blue Jays for $ 100,000 rather than attend. He was assigned to the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Blue Jays for the 2013 season and pitched to a 1–1 record, 5.28 ERA, and 20 strikeouts in 30 2 ⁄ 3 innings. Greene split
930-409: Was highlighted by a 4.68 earned run average (ERA). Throughout 34 appearances, he demonstrated versatility by taking on both relief pitcher and starting pitcher roles, making him a valuable asset in various game situations. In total, Greene pitched 57.2 innings and recorded an impressive 59 strikeouts. On November 6, he elected free agency. Greene is an avid surfer , and has also worked as a model . He
961-555: Was invited to Major League spring training on January 12, 2016, and reassigned to minor league camp on March 10. Greene was assigned to the Dunedin Blue Jays to open the 2016 minor league season. He was promoted to Double-A New Hampshire in early July, and pitched his first career complete game and shutout on July 26, defeating the Harrisburg Senators 1–0. Greene made 27 total starts in 2016, and pitched to