SPRINGDALE — A familiar name is coming back to Northwest Arkansas.
Former Arkansas outfielder Brett Eibner will continue his climb to Major League Baseball when he suits up for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals this season.
The Naturals are the Double-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals and they open the season Thursday against Midland in Arvest Ballpark. Eibner was one of four outfielders listed on the Naturals preliminary roster that was released Friday.
Eibner was a two-way player at Arkansas as a pitcher and outfielder, and he was drafted by the Royals in the second round of the 2010 draft and was given a $1.25 million signing bonus.
Having a top Royals prospect who once played for Arkansas is a winning combination, Naturals general manager Eric Edelstein said.
“People know him, and he had a great career at Arkansas,” Edelstein said. “Eibner is our first multiyear starter for the Hogs that has made it to us. It’s exciting for us, and it’s exciting for the area. We hope it will be another reason for people to check us out.”
Eibner started the 2011 season as the No. 10 prospect in the Royals organization as rated by Baseball America, but he has steadily moved down the prospects chart the last two seasons, starting this season at No. 29 in the system. Eibner was injured early his first season in 2011 at Kane County, and he finished the 2012 season at Class A-Advanced Wilmington with a .196 batting average after striking out 165 times in 423 at-bats.
There has been talk this season would be Eibner’s last chance to prove himself at the plate before the Royals gave him a look at pitcher. But Kansas City assistant general manager J.J. Picollo said this is not a make or break season for Eibner as a position player.
Eibner was recently honored by the Royals as their top defensive Minor League performer in 2012.
“Eibner had a really good spring, swung the bat exceptionally well,” Picollo said. “He seems like he is on track and ready for a good season. We saw him pitch at Arkansas, but we far more liked his hitting ability. We had him higher on our draft board as a hitter.
“We have assured him that pitching is something to put way back in his back pocket and not even think about that. We don’t even discuss it. Brett is a hitter for us.”
Two of the top prospects in the Royals farm system — Yordano Ventura at No. 3 and Jason Adam at No. 8 — highlight the Naturals possible starting pitching rotation. Returning right-handed pitchers Sugar Ray Marimon and J.C. Sulbaran and returning lefty Noel Arguelles will join Brooks Pounders in completing the possible starting rotation. Pounders was a second round pick by Pittsburgh in 2009 and was traded to Kansas City in 2011.
John Lamb, the Royals’ top pitching prospect in 2011 before having Tommy John surgery, will start the season at Wilmington but is expected to be in Springdale at some point this season. Lamb is ranked by Baseball America as the No. 11 overall prospect in the organization.
“Lamb is still trying to build some arm strength,” Picollo said. “By putting him in a lower level, we think that will come more naturally and quickly. We certainly hope he will be in Double-A by the end of the year.”
Top-ranked prospect pitcher Kyle Zimmer will also start at Wilmington and could also work his way into a Naturals uniform. Zimmer was the Royals top pick and the No. 5 overall pick in the 2012 draft.