SPRINGDALE -- Northwest Arkansas manager Vance Wilson stresses that success in his job is measured in more than wins and losses.
Helping players improve and move on to the next level and ultimately to the Major Leagues to help the parent club thrive is the basis for minor league baseball. Wilson and the Naturals succeeded on both fronts this season.
2016 Texas League attendance
Team^Avg.
Frisco^7,024
Tulsa^5,383
Coprus Christi^5,161
Springfield^4,731
Arkansas^4,716
San Antonio^4,603
Northwest Arkansas^4,457
Midland^3,9000
Northwest Arkansas attendance
Year^Avg.
2016^4,457
2015^4,469
2014^4,625
2013^4,685
2012^4,656
2011^4,779
2010^4,856
2009^4,819
2008^5,200
The Naturals won the North Division second-half title on the season's final day and advanced to the Texas League Championship Series for the second consecutive season, falling to Midland again.
"It was successful in that we moved guys to Triple-A with a couple going to the Major Leagues," Wilson said. "We feel like we gained some guys from 'A' ball that had a good base and we were able to continue their development.
"Even though the season finished in disappointment from a winning standpoint, you look back at what the guys were able to accomplish under our staff. It was just an incredible job by the guys and the staff, pitching coach Steve Luebber and hitting coach Brian Buchanan."
Only 10 of the 25 players in Northwest Arkansas on opening day were on the playoff roster. A few were lost to injury or other issues, but most moved to Triple-A or beyond.
Next season's Naturals team could look incredibly different, Wilson said.
Alfredo Escalera and Samir Duenez are two that are likely to be back in Northwest Arkansas, after being promoted to Double-A in the second half, Wilson said. The 20-year-old Duenez drove in 100 runs combined over three levels this season, but played just the last 14 games and the playoffs in Northwest Arkansas.
Pitchers Eric Skoglund, a Texas League All-Star, and Yender Caramo have definitely done enough to earn a promotion to Triple-A, Wilson said.
Caramo went from a middle reliever to the starting rotation and put himself on the map, according to Wilson.
"He pitched a higher velocity and gained a slider," Wilson said.
He also pointed to players like first baseman/DH Frank Schwindel, catcher Cam Gallagher and third baseman Mauricio Ramos, who spent the whole season in Northwest Arkansas, should also get a look.
Ramos was among the league leaders in hitting, while Schwindel also ranked among the league leaders in home runs and RBIs.
"Cam proved he could handle a pitching staff in his first year at Double-A, Wilson said. "He threw out runners at a good clip. I think he made huge strides in discipline and learned how to be a professional behind the plate. I think there's a lot more in there personally."
Ramos will be joined by Naturals teammates Ryan O'Hearn, Corey Toups, Josh Staumont, Evan Beal and Eric Stout in the prestigious Arizona Fall League.
That's a chance to further up their stock and position themselves for a move up even before spring training, Wilson said.
It could be big for O'Hearn and Toups, who both enjoyed success this season after being promoted from Class A-advanced Wilmington.
Staumont, a hard-throwing righthander, appeared to harness control issues late in the season that have plagued him. He went 2-0 with a 1.85 ERA in his last four starts, striking out 39 and walking eight over 24.1 innings. That's a far cry from his numbers in Wilmington where he was 2-10 with a 5.05 ERA and walked 67 in 73 innings.
"The kid's probably on the fast track," Wilson said. "If he does start here, he's probably not here long. He's shown when he's on, his stuff plays at the Major League level."
The Naturals also enjoyed a strong year at the box office as well, general manager Justin Cole said.
Attendance remained similar to a year ago, averaging more than 4,400, but the weather was not a problem as more than 312,000 people saw Naturals baseball in 70 home dates.
"The biggest difference was we got all 70 games in for the first time in nine years," Cole said. "But we feel like we're settling into a spot where we'll average between 4,400 and 4,700. We like that average. That's good fan support."
The Naturals ranked seventh out of eight teams in the Texas League in attendance, but they rank among the top half of Double-A. Northwest Arkansas ranks 14th out of 30 Double-A teams.
Sports on 09/22/2016