SPRINGDALE -- Brandon Finnegan had a season in 2014 most baseball players can only dream about.
Finnegan began the year at Texas Christian, where he led the Horned Frogs to the College World Series. He was then drafted in the first round by the Kansas City Royals, who placed him at Class A-advanced Wilmington and Double-A Northwest Arkansas before promoting him to Kansas City when major league rosters expanded in September.
Northwest Arkansas Naturals Homestand
At Arvest Ballpark, Springdale
On The Air: KQSM-FM 92.1
Series Schedule
Today: vs. Midland, 6:05 p.m.
Friday: vs. Midland, 7:05 p.m.
Saturday: vs. Midland, 6:05 p.m.
Sunday: vs. Frisco, 2:05 p.m.
Monday: vs. Frisco, 7:05 p.m.
Tuesday: vs. Frisco, 11:05 a.m.
Wednesday: Off
This Week’s Promotions
Today: Postgame fireworks and Buck Night on Thirsty Thursday
Friday: Postgame fireworks and Scout campout
Saturday: Arvest Ballpark calendar giveaway
Sunday: Kids eat free family Sunday
Monday: $1 hotdogs
Tuesday: Swepco school kids day
Wednesday: Off
Ticket Packages
• Super Premium A: $12
• Premium: $10
• Reserved: $8
• Grass Berm: $7
• Super Premium Family: $12
• Premium Family: $10
Online
Finnegan pitched in four postseason games for the Royals, including two appearances in the World Series, where he went 1-1. He made history by becoming the first player to pitch in both the MLB World Series and College World Series in the same year, which impresses almost everyone except Finnegan.
"To me, it's just baseball," Finnegan said after a workout at Arvest Ballpark, where the Naturals will make their home debut tonight against Midland. "That's the way it's always been and the way it always will be for me. Maybe one day, when I'm done playing, I can look back on that, but not now."
Finnegan has returned to Springdale after pitching in eight games last year for the Naturals, where he was 0-3 with a 2.25 ERA. He had hoped to stay in Kansas City, but that plan evaporated after he displayed shaky command of his pitches and fashioned an 8.53 ERA in Cactus League games this spring.
"It was all me," said Finnegan, who is scheduled to start on Saturday for the Naturals. "I wanted to make the team and I was pressing. My stuff was fine but I was throwing the ball a lot of times not knowing where it was going."
Kansas City still has high hopes for Finnegan, a 21-year-old left-hander who was the 17th overall pick in the Major League Baseball draft. The Royals hope to bring him back as a starter after he made his major league debut last season as a reliever.
"That's always been the long-range plan for Brandon," Naturals manager Vance Wilson said. "It's in his career best interest to become a starter and it's our job to develop him to where he's polished and ready to go when the Royals call for him. He'll be on a pitch count here and there's no timetable for his return."
Finnegan hopes for a better outing Saturday than last week when he was roughed up in a loss to Frisco. Finnegan (0-1) pitched three innings and allowed three earned runs on five hits.
Finnegan, who is rated the Royals' No. 2 prospect, is one of a handful of top prospects who'll begin the year with the Naturals. Raul Mondesi will take over at shortstop with Hunter Dozier at third base and Jorge Bonifacio in right field. Finnegan will head a pitching staff that includes Miguel Almonte, Glenn Sparkman, Andy Ferguson, and J.C. Sulburan.
Bonficio hit his third home run of the season on Tuesday to give the Naturals (2-4) a 6-2 victory over Frisco.
"We've got the strong arms and the players in the field to have a good team," Finnegan said. "We just have to go out there and show it."
Sports on 04/16/2015