MICHAEL MASSEY NAMED TEXAS LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

SPRINGDALE, Ark – *Minor League Baseball announced the Pitcher and Player of the Week honors for each of the respective Player Development Leagues and Naturals’ second baseman *Michael Massey was named the Texas League Player of the Week for his performance the week of May 23rd through May 29th. This is Massey’s second time being named the league’s Player of the Week, after taking home the honor for the week of April 25th to May 1st. It marks the fourth time a Natural has been recognized with a weekly award as well, as left-handed Pitcher Drew Parrish has twice been the league’s Pitcher of the Week this season.

The native of Palos, Illinois hit a league-best .481 (13-for-27) across six games in Midland against the RockHounds during his award-winning week, while tied for the league lead with 19 total bases. Massey drove in nine runs as well, doubling three times with one home run, a go-ahead grand slam on May 24. He collected multiple hits in each of the first five games of the series, producing a season-best seven-game hitting streak dating back to the previous week.

Selected by the Kansas City Royals in the 4th Round of the 2019 Draft out of the University of Illinois, Massey is slashing .328/.376/.546 (57-for-174) through 42 games for the Naturals. The second baseman currently leads the team with eight home runs and ranks first among all Double-A hitters with 44 runs batted in, also leading the Naturals with 22 extra-base hits, 95 total bases and 30 runs scored, all of which rank among the Texas League leaders. His .328 average ranks fifth in the league, while 57 hits rank second.

It is the 41st time in franchise history that a Naturals’ player has won the Player of the Week award, the last being when Massey was recognized at the start of this month. He is the sixth Natural hitter in club history to win a weekly award twice in one season, the last being MJ Melendez, who was recognized three time in 2021 as the Double-A Central Player of the Week.

_Connor Jones _of the Arkansas Travelers (Double-A, Seattle Mariners) was the Texas League’s Pitcher of the Week after throwing a 7.0-inning no-hitter against the Amarillo Sod Poodles on May 26th, allowing just three walks while striking out eight in the first game of a doubleheader.

The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are the Double-A Affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. They play at state-of-the-art Arvest Ballpark in Springdale, Ark. For more information, including ticket options, promotions, groups, visit NWANaturals.com, and follow us on Twitter @NWANaturals and Facebook.com/Naturals.