The Royals’ Double-A affiliate the Northwest Arkansas Naturals had a tough year. They went 57-79 on the season. Overall, it was a very rough season in Arkansas, but who carved out a good year? The good from the position players…
Trenton Kraxner reviewed the 2026 season for the Kansas City Royals' Double-A affiliate, the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, following their 57-79 campaign. Despite the team's struggles, outfielders Luke Pelzer and Spencer Nivens stood out offensively. Pelzer batted .337 across 42 Double-A games, while Nivens hit .280 with nine home runs in 104 appearances, positioning him for a likely promotion to Triple-A Omaha next season.
On the mound, Kraxner highlighted mixed results alongside promising stretches from several arms. Left-hander Justin Lamkin posted a standout 2.04 ERA across eight starts before an injury ended his campaign. Pitchers Drew Beam and Hunter Owen faced challenges with ERAs near or above six, while Frank Mozzicato displayed increased velocity following a shift to the bullpen.
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