SCOTT THORMAN TABBED AS NATURALS MANAGER

SPRINGDALE, Ark. - The Kansas City Royals have announced the 2020 field staffs for all of their minor league affiliates today - Friday, January 10^th - and the big league club has tabbed Scott Thorman as the new field manager of the Northwest Arkansas Naturals. Thorman, promoted from the Wilmington Blue Rocks (2019) will become the fifth manager in franchise history.
Fresh off a managerial role with the Surprise Saguaros in the prestigious Arizona Fall League, the Naturals' new skipper is accustomed to winning as he's won league titles during each of the last two seasons. In 2018 he guided the Lexington Legends to the South Atlantic League championship before winning five playoff elimination games with the Wilmington Blue Rocks en route to the 2019 Mills Cup Championship in the Carolina League, which was the first Carolina League title for Wilmington since 1999.

Thorman, 38, is entering his sixth managerial season within the Kansas City Royals organization. He has accumulated a regular season record of 304-259 to go along with the two aforementioned titles. He started his managing career with the Burlington Royals in 2015 and 2016 before advancing to Lexington in 2017 and 2018 and then Wilmington in 2018. His work with the Legends in 2018 garnered him the Dick Howser Award, given out annually to the Royals' most outstanding player development person.
Prior to managing, he played professionally for 12 years including a Major League stint with the Atlanta Braves in 2006 and 2007.
Joining Thorman on the Northwest Arkansas Naturals' field staff is Doug Henry, whom returns as the pitching coach, while Abraham Nunez is back as the team's hitting coach. Certified athletic trainer Justin Kemp will continue in his role while newcomers Tony Medina (Development Coach) and Yannick Plante (Strength and Conditioning) will round out the 2020 field staff.
Northwest Arkansas' new skipper along with Alec Zumwalt, Director of Hitting Performance/Player Development for the Kansas City Royals, are scheduled to be in attendance at the Naturals Hot Stove Luncheon, which will be held at The Apollo on Emma in Springdale on Monday, January 20 from 12 p.m. until 1 p.m. The event is held in conjunction with the Springdale Rotary Club.
The first opportunity for fans to catch the 2020 Northwest Arkansas Naturals in action will be at Arvest Ballpark on Thursday, April 16^th at 6:35 p.m. against the Corpus Christi Hooks (Double-A Affiliate of the Houston Astros) for Opening Night.
The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are the Double-A Texas League Affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. The Naturals play at state-of-the-art Arvest Ballpark in Springdale, Ark. For more information, including team statistics, ticket options, group outings and more, please visit NWANaturals.com, and follow us on Twitter @NWANaturals and Facebook.com/Naturals.
-Naturals-